Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Parade marks Russia's 64th Victory Day

|
|
 
  
(L-R) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and President Dmitry Medvedev attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on May 8, 2009 on the eve of the Victory Day. On May 9 Russia will celebrate the 64th anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov) 
Published: May 9, 2009 at 7:24 AM

MOSCOW, May 9 (UPI) -- Thousands of parading armed services members shared Moscow's Red Square with sophisticated weaponry Saturday to mark Victory Day, Russian officials said.

It was the country's 64th annual Victory Day parade, which observes the date of the final surrender of Nazi Germany to the U.S.S.R. in 1945, marking the end of World War II. Some 9,000 soldiers and sailors accompanied 103 tracked and wheeled military vehicles and 69 aircraft and helicopters in the parade, RIA Novosti reported.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attended the parade, praising the country's war veterans and telling them he would produce "a peaceful future" for the country, telling the crowd, "Any aggression against our citizens will be met with an adequate response, and the future of Russia will be peaceful."

The parade began when honor guard servicemen paraded the flag of the Russian Federation and the Victory Flag in front of the parade lines, Itar-TASS reported.

Medvedev officially began the Victory Day observances Friday with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Moscow, the news service said.

Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 19
Tiger Woods plays Spyglass Hill in the AT&T Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, California
View Caption
fark
Scientists discover a drug designed to fight cancer reverses Alzheimer's in mice. Still no cure...
Cutting out the middle man ... antiques dealer with late stage cancer hosting her own estate sale...
Customer from grocery store finds hand grenade hidden among potatoes
Cop pulls gun on woman for taking too many items through the self-check out at WalMart, because...
Fan of British sitcom "Red Dwarf" escapes Philadelphia Police custody. Last seen wearing handcuffs...
Paul and Storm request your help to petition the NFL to have Weird Al Yankovic perform the SuperBowl...