Military parades and other ceremonial events paying tribute to the valor and sacrifice of the Soviet people have taken place across Russia, with the centerpiece Victory Day celebration in Moscow attended by 28 foreign leaders.
Thousands of troops and dozens of military vehicles paraded through Moscow’s iconic Red Square on May 9 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany and its collaborators.
For over a decade, Victory Day has also featured a massive civilian march known as the Immortal Regiment, during which people carry portraits of their relatives who fought the Nazis. Dozens of Immortal Regiment marches have already taken place across the world over the past week – including in China, Africa, and Latin America – leading up to Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.
Following the parade in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a series of meetings with visiting leaders, with talks expected to cover Ukraine, regional conflicts, energy cooperation, and economic ties. The leaders of Brazil, Egypt, Slovakia, Serbia, and Uzbekistan were among those taking part in the discussions.
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09 May 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has concluded a series of bilateral meetings with visiting world leaders during the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany with a final session on Thursday evening with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan.
The two leaders met at the Kremlin after attending Moscow’s Victory Day events earlier in the day. The Uzbek president was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Deputy Prime Ministers Jamshid Khodjaev and Jamshid Kuchkarov, Central Bank Chairman Timur Ishmetov, among others. The Russian side included top economic and finance officials such as First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina, and Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev.
Mirziyoyev’s visit marked his second trip to Russia this year, with the talks focused on trade, energy, finance, and industrial cooperation, according to the Kremlin.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stressed that he does not support a “new Iron Curtain” isolating Russia from the West.
He cited the difficulties caused by having to change his jet’s flight path to get to Russia as an example. Earlier this week, fellow EU member-state Estonia closed its airspace to Fico’s jet.
“All technical problems that we encountered, and that our colleagues from the European Union caused, we will consider a childish joke,” he said in his meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
“There is a huge desire here to build a new Iron Curtain. I felt yesterday just how difficult it was to travel here, unlike last year, when we could come here from Bratislava in two hours,” Fico said.
Vladimir Putin has welcomed Robert Fico’s efforts to restore “long-standing ties between Russia and Slovakia that were effectively frozen” by the previous government in Bratislava, “who strictly followed the collective line of the West.”
“We support this, and for our part, we will do everything in our power in this direction. We have always maintained relations with Slovakia as a friendly state, acting on the principles of respect and consideration of each other's interests,” the Russian leader said.
Putin pointed out that those in the EU who tried to stop Fico from attending the event in Moscow “have once again been convinced that it is better not to do this.”
“You achieve your goals no matter what,” the Russian leader said.
Slovakia is ready to use its power of veto to stop the EU proposal of completely blockading the import of Russian energy resources into the bloc, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Earlier this week, the European Commission proposed a roadmap to completely wean the EU from Russian energy imports in the coming years.
Fico stressed that EU sanctions have hurt EU countries rather than Russia. For instance, Slovakia cannot move from Russian nuclear fuel to US-produced fuel from Westinghouse due to reactor incompatibility, he stressed.
The traditional May 9 fireworks display has lit up the night sky in spectacular fashion in dozens of spots around Moscow.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic addressed President Vladimir Putin in Russian during their meeting at the Kremlin.
“We are grateful for the enormous support for the territorial integrity of Serbia, our sovereignty and, of course, your exceptional contribution to the development of our bilateral relations,” Vucic said.
He expressed hope that bilateral trade could be increased.
“A vital issue is gas supply,” Vucic said, adding that he hoped the long-term gas contract between Russia and Serbia would continue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Moscow.
“Our soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder against the Nazi invaders,” he said. “We know how respectfully the authorities and people of Serbia treat the memory of those who died for the freedom of our countries.”
Putin thanked Vucic for attending the Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital despite pressure from the EU. Brussels has warned Vucic that a visit to Moscow will affect Serbia’s bid to join the bloc.
“We value Serbia’s independent, sovereign path in international matters” and will continue to guarantee its energy security, Putin said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin complimented Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on his physical condition after the latter's reception at the Kremlin.
Last May, the prime minister survived an assassination attempt when he was shot multiple times by a pro-Ukraine activist. Fico has been one of the EU’s strongest dissenting voices on Western policies about the Ukraine conflict.
“You’ve got a sporty walk,” Putin said as he shook hands with Fico.
Victory Day fireworks are ongoing in Siberia and Russia’s Far East.
The crowds can be seen recording the spectacular display on their phones as music plays in the background.
Moscow is ready to deepen its economic cooperation with Brasilia, President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, has said, following Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s meeting at the Kremlin.
Bilateral trade between the two nations grew by 9.3% last year, with Brazil importing around a quarter of its fertilizers from Russia, he said. Moscow is ready to further strengthen this cooperation, he added.
“In addition, the countries are currently actively working to launch joint projects in the fields of AI, medicine, industry, and mining,” Dmitriev said.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has extended his best wishes to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Victory Day during bilateral talks. He hailed the “strategic partnership” between the two nations and expressed hope for continued development.
“We are strengthening our interaction and political consultations. I sincerely hope that the meeting of the intergovernmental commission between our countries, scheduled for May 12-14 this year, will be held successfully,” Sisi said.
The common fight against Nazism holds a special place in diplomatic relations between Cairo and Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
“It is symbolic that diplomatic relations between the USSR and Egypt were established precisely during the war – in August 1943, after the defeat of the Nazis at the Kursk Salient,” he said.
He stressed that today, Russian-Egyptian relations are developing successfully, in line with their 2018 comprehensive cooperation and strategic partnership agreement.
Cairo is one of Moscow’s key partners on the African continent, Putin said.
Russia has held a minute of silence to honor the fallen in World War II. It was broadcast on all federal television channels.
Victory Day is an important historical bond between Israel and Russia, Israeli Ambassador to Moscow Simona Halperin has said.
“This victory is the victory of good over evil, the final victory, the victory of light over darkness. And this bridge between our countries has always been and always will be,” she told RT.
Israel will “openly, loudly and clearly” speak out against any attempts to glorify and rehabilitate Nazism, Halperin added.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has pushed back against EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’ criticism of his visit to Moscow for Victory Day.
Earlier in the day at an event in Lviv, Ukraine, the bloc’s top diplomat once again denounced Fico for his visit, warning him that it will “not be taken lightly” in Brussels.
In an open letter on social media, Fico replied that as a high-ranking official of the European Commission, Kallas has “absolutely no authority to criticize a sovereign Prime Minister of a sovereign country.”
Fico stressed that he does not agree with the bloc’s policy of a “new Iron Curtain,” and noted that diplomacy cannot function if politicians cannot meet and “have normal dialogue.”
Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy and member of Russia’s negotiating team in talks with the US, has called for the memory of victory over Nazism to foster peace in the future.
“May 9th. Victory Day. We honor the courage and resilience of those who secured peace at the highest cost. Their victory reminds us that we can overcome even the greatest challenges,” Dmitriev wrote in a post on X.
“Let’s carry this legacy forward — building bridges, not walls; fostering peace, not division,” he said.
Multitudes of people in Odessa have come to lay flowers at the monument to the Unknown Sailor for Victory Day, despite the World War II monument being surrounded by a police cordon.
Law enforcement officials and the Ukrainian national guard are conducting mandatory passport checks before allowing people through to the memorial.
In photos published by local media, the monument is seen covered in flowers.
Sarajevo can always rely on Moscow to defend its interests, Milorad Dodik, the president of the autonomous region within Bosnia and Herzegovina, has said after his meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
“Republika Srpska can count on the support of Russia and President Putin in defending the Dayton Peace Agreement,” he wrote on X, referencing the 1995 accord which ended the civil war in the former Yugoslavia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have exchanged Victory Day greetings through their aides, Yury Ushakov, a senior Kremlin aide, has said.
Ushakov noted that the two leaders conveyed “warm words and mutual congratulations” on the holiday marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in WWII.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has used his meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to criticize US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, saying they undermine the principles of free trade and respect for sovereign nations.
Lula said that while the world had once believed that after WWII, there would be greater multilateralism, a stronger United Nations, and growth in free trade, this was not destined to come true.
“Unfortunately, we do not live in this kind of peace today. The decisions that were made, and announced by the President of the United States, the tariff policy for all countries, bury free trade, the issue of strengthening multilateralism, and bury respect for free nations.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Moscow, welcoming him warmly and recalling their previous cordial exchanges. He also noted past efforts to strengthen ties between Russia and Brazil. In response, Lula said he appreciated the friendly reception.
Pro-Ukraine activists demonstrating at the Immortal Regiment procession in Berlin had to be separated by police from those supporting Russia, a video clip from the scene shows.
Marchers were chanting “Russia, Russia,” while opposing demonstrators waved Ukrainian and NATO flags and held signs reading “Arm Ukraine.” The confrontation occurred near the Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten.
The march of the Immortal Regiment, in which participants carried portraits of relatives who fought to liberate Europe from Nazism, has taken place in the heart of Berlin.
The procession, which drew members of the Russian community and local residents, moved through the centre of the German capital and concluded at the Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten, where thousands of Red Army soldiers are buried.
Despite a ban by Berlin authorities on displaying Soviet flags and symbols at World War II memorials during Victory Day commemorations — including restrictions on performing Soviet songs in public — participants sang “Katyusha,” a wartime folk song symbolizing hope, sacrifice, and the longing of those left behind on the home front.
While celebrating the anniversary of the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany, Russian President Vladimir Putin has marked “a victory of his own” by gathering more than 20 world leaders despite the West’s attempts to isolate Moscow, the Washington Post has reported.
The Russian president has managed to present himself as a “confident global figure” who is on his way to prevail in the Ukraine conflict who contemplates a growing rift between the US and the EU, the article said.
The elderly woman detained near the Eternal Flame memorial in Kiev for wearing a Soviet military side cap with a red star has been listed on Ukraine’s Mirotvorets website – often described as a “kill list” – since 2018.
The database, which publishes the personal information of individuals it claims threaten Ukrainian national security, accuses her of “war propaganda,” and “public support for Russian aggression.”
According to earlier media reports, the woman, identified as 85-year-old Galina Savchenko, has been detained on numerous occasions over wearing Soviet-related symbols, which has been outlawed in the country since 2015.
Commenting on claims of historical revisionism of the Soviet role in World War II, Reade suggested that it is impossible to rewrite the facts about the war: “I think Russia does a good job of upholding its memory and the history.”
She added that many countries recognize the significance of Russia’s role. “Even former Western leaders like John F. Kennedy acknowledged the great sacrifice of the Russian people,” she said.
Reade criticized trends such as the removal of Soviet-linked monuments in a number of former Soviet republics, and expressed hope that “as we move through this and come to a place where there’s peace again and cooperation, those statues will be then re-erected and there will be memories and tributes to the people that are heroes.”
The West is concerned about world leaders visiting the Victory Day parade in Moscow because “they’ve lost… the proxy war against Russia,” Tara Reade, RT contributor and a former US Senate aide, has said.
“They lost to Russia, and Ukraine now is just, you know… there’s nothing left, hardly,” she noted.
She deplored being “one of the few Westerners” attending the Victory Day events in Moscow and added, “There should have been a US delegation to strengthen ties.”
“It’s time for Russophobia to end,” Reade stressed.
Two people were injured in a Ukrainian drone strike on the Belgorod regional government building, local Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has said.
Deputy Governor Alexandr Lorentz, who was near the explosion site, sustained a concussion and blast injury, he added. After attending a Victory Day ceremony, the official underwent a medical exam and continued treatment at home. Another wounded was a Russian National Guard officer who suffered a shrapnel wound to the thigh and is now receiving hospital care, according to Gladkov.
Ukraine has launched four attempted border incursions into Kursk and Belgorod Regions, along with 15 attacks in Donbass despite a Victory Day ceasefire proposed by Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry has said.
Russian officials have reported 5,026 attacks in total, including more than 1,400 artillery and rocket attacks, and over 3,500 drone strikes.
Moscow earlier warned that while it plans to abide by a ceasefire, it could respond symmetrically if Kiev attacks.
Speaking at a dinner with visiting foreign leaders after the Victory Day parade, Putin said that Russia remembers the assistance the Soviet Union received during WWII during fight against Nazis. He also raised a toast “to the triumph of truth and justice, to the prosperity of our countries and peoples.”
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said this year’s parade in Moscow is the best he has ever seen. “I didn’t take part in the Soviet parades – I was too young. But I’ve seen all the Russian ones, and I can say this is the strongest.”
He noted that despite the Ukraine conflict, Russia has showcased its most advanced military hardware. “We saw new models. Well done,” he added. “We know this – we’ve purchased such equipment from the Russian Federation. I was fully satisfied with what I saw.”
The Soviet Union played a major role in World War II, destroying two-thirds of the German army and sustaining heavy losses, CNN reporter Frederik Pleitgen has said. Asked whether he thought the Soviet role is being reassessed, Pleitgen responded that the country’s significant contribution is common knowledge.
Ukrainian police have detained an elderly woman near the Eternal Flame memorial in Kiev after she arrived to lay flowers, wearing a Soviet military side cap with a red star. The symbol has been banned in the country under the notorious 2015 decommunization law.
The woman was seen arguing with officers, who asked her to give explanations at the station. “I’ve already been there six times,” she said before entering the police car voluntarily.
As part of its efforts to cut ties with Russia, Ukraine moved Victory Day from May 9 to 8 and designated May 9 as Europe Day, though many Ukrainians continue to defy the change.
Putin was joined by foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as they laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin.
After the parade concluded, President Vladimir Putin approached the commanders of the ceremonial formations and personally greeted each of them. He also spoke with North Korean service members. Troops from the country took part in the defense of Russia’s Kursk Region against a large-scale Ukrainian incursion.
Russian Su-35 and MiG-29 fighter jets opened the aerial segment of the Victory Day parade, followed by six Su-25 aircraft trailing smoke in the colors of the Russian flag.
Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems have also been displayed on Red Square. These systems form the backbone of Russia’s mobile nuclear forces.
This year’s Victory Day parade has featured the debut of the latest Giatsint-K and Malva 152-mm artillery systems. The event has also included modern Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems and the TOS-2 Tosochka heavy flamethrower systems.
Several types of drones used in the Ukraine conflict have been displayed in the parade.
Russia has displayed Iskander-M tactical missile systems during the parade. The mobile launchers, which are being used in the Ukraine conflict, are capable of carrying high-precision ballistic missiles with a range of up to 500km.
Modern Russian military hardware has also featured in the parade, including Tigr armored vehicles and BRM-1K combat reconnaissance vehicles equipped with new remote-controlled combat modules and dynamic protection systems. S-400 air defense systems have also been showcased.
Russian military vehicles have started rolling onto Red Square, with columns led by a host of the legendary T-34, the workhorse of the Red Army in World War II.
A detachment of female service members has also taken part in the Victory Day parade on Red Square, many of them descendants of military officers.
A detachment of Russian service members who have taken part in the Ukraine conflict marched through Red Square during the Victory Day parade, with 20 Heroes of Russia among them.
Troops from Laos, Mongolia, and Myanmar have also joined in, receiving salutes as they passed by the tribune.
A detachment of Chinese troops – the largest of the foreign contingents taking part in the parade – has marched through Red Square.
Columns of Russian heavy military equipment are seen parked near Red Square ahead of the parade, according to RT footage.
Military contingents from Vietnam and Egypt have also taken part in the parade. Leaders from both countries were seen applauding as their troops marched through the square.
Servicemen from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan have marched across Red Square.
Troops are marching across Red Square as the Victory Day parade has commenced, led by military musicians and soldiers holding the banners of Soviet fronts from the final stages of World War II.
Putin has announced a minute of silence to honor those who died in the Great Patriotic War.
Russia will forever remember the efforts of its allies in World War II, Putin has said. “We highly value the contribution of the soldiers of the Allied armies, members of the Resistance, the courageous people of China, and all who fought for a peaceful future.”
“The entire country, our society, our people support the participants of the military operation [against Kiev]. We are proud of their courage and determination, of the strength of spirit that has always brought us victory,” Putin has said.
Russia “has always been and will remain an unbreakable barrier against Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism,” Putin has stated, vowing to continue the “fight against the atrocities committed by the supporters of these aggressive and destructive ideologies.”
Russia will never allow the history of World War II to be distorted, and will fight against those who try to defame the people who stood against Nazism, Putin has said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun his speech at the Victory Day parade.
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has started the inspection of the troops taking part in the Victory Day parade.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was seen clasping his hands in an apparent prayer before the start of the Victory Day parade, according to a video on social media.
The Victory Day parade has kicked off in Moscow, with service members carrying the Russian flag and the Soviet military banner.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed, among others, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow, with Kremlin-released footage showing the leaders shaking hands ahead of the Victory Day parade on Red Square.
Hundreds have marched in Paris as part of the Immortal Regiment event, carrying portraits of relatives who fought in the Great Patriotic War, as well as Soviet flags, according to footage from the scene.
Troops taking part in the Victory Day parade in Moscow are seen lining up on Red Square, according to a clip shared by Ruptly.
Hundreds of people marched in Indonesia as part of the Immortal Regiment event, with many participants carrying portraits of their wartime relatives and donning World War II-era uniforms, according to footage from the scene.
A clip shared by Sputnik shows Belarus’ most iconic wartime monuments brought to life with AI to mark Victory Day. Featured memorials included the ‘Courage’ and ‘Thirst’ sculptures at Brest Fortress, the ‘Unconquered Man’ in Khatyn, the monument to Marat Kazei, and the ‘Motherland’ statue in Minsk.
Brest Fortress is remembered for its fierce Soviet defense during the Nazi invasion in June 1941, while Khatyn became a symbol of Nazi atrocities after its population was massacred and the village destroyed in 1943. Kazei was a Belarusian teenage partisan who died in 1944 fighting the Nazi forces and was posthumously named a Hero of the Soviet Union.
Several heads of foreign delegations and honored guests, including leaders of former Soviet republics, have arrived at the Kremlin in Moscow ahead of the Victory Day parade, according to a video circulating on social media. More foreign leaders are expected to come.
A Ukrainian drone has attacked a local government building in Belgorod, but no injuries were reported, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. He said all emergency services were working at the scene and that Victory Day events were continuing as planned under heightened security measures.
Thousands, including many young people, marched through the streets of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan – a former Soviet republic – with portraits of wartime relatives during the Immortal Regiment event, according to a video from the scene.
Turkmenistan’s president, Serdar Berdymuhamedov, has arrived in Moscow to attend the 80th anniversary Victory Day celebrations, according to footage shared by Izvestia. The video shows his plane landing at a Moscow airport, where he is seen disembarking.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said Moscow invited numerous world leaders and veterans to the Victory Day events “not because we want something from them, but because we want to share this incredible atmosphere, the strength of spirit, and our historical memory.”
Another video shows the Chinese service members singing ‘The Sacred War’, a Soviet song written during World War II which became a symbol of resistance against Nazi Germany.
A column of Chinese soldiers carrying the national flag was seen marching on Moscow’s Red Square ahead of the Victory Day parade, according to a video circulating on social media.
The military equipment to be shown in the Victory Day parade in Moscow will include several types of drones, according to RT footage shot before the event.
The Immortal Regiment online event begins at 12:00 local time across Russia, with replays available later, the organizers have told TASS.
Portraits of those who fought the Nazis during WWII will appear on social media, clothing, private vehicles, special equipment, aircraft fuselages, riverboats, in schools, kindergartens, and even on the front line, the press service has said, adding that the format “allows everyone to honor the memory of heroes in any way they can.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has urged Ukrainians and Moldovans not to give up on historical truth as they celebrate the Victory Day “behind closed shutters.”
“Be strong, find the means, find the energy to stand up for the truth, and do not give up.”
She warned that surrendering would lead to a replay of Nazi atrocities: “Otherwise, we will see a repetition of what has already happened – attempts to sort people into those who can live and breathe freely, and those destined to live only in ghettos.”
In a historic first, Mongolian border guards marched alongside their Russian counterparts in the Victory Day parade held in Kyzyl, the capital of Russia’s Tuva Republic, according to the regional government.
The Mongolian contingent was led by Lieutenant Colonel Lkhagva-Ochir Ochirsuren, deputy commander of the 45th Border Guard Detachment. Their participation underscored Mongolia’s longstanding support for the Soviet Union during World War II and its continued cooperation with Russia in border security.
“Mongolia was one of the first countries to officially declare military support for the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War,” the Tuva government noted. “Today, Mongolian and Russian border guards continue to jointly protect the state border in a spirit of friendship.”
The parade also featured soldiers and officers from Russia’s 55th Separate Guards Mountain Motor Rifle Brigade, including recent participants in the special military operation. For the first time, a combined unit of female service members from the brigade and a railway battalion took part in the march.
The military parade in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk featured over 2,500 participants and more than 30 pieces of military hardware.
The parade began with drummers from the Siberian Cadet Corps, followed by ceremonial flag bearers with standards of ten WWII fronts and troops in historic infantry, air force, and naval uniforms. Service members from the Central Military District, air defense troops, FSB border guards, cadets, law enforcement students, and Youth Army members – including from the Lugansk People’s Republic – marched through the square.
The legendary T-34 led the mechanized formation, joined by Iskander-M missile systems and Yars mobile launchers. For the first time, the column included BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicles and BRM-1KM reconnaissance units equipped for modern warfare, including FPV drone countermeasures.
More than 100 participants were veterans of Russia’s ongoing military operation in Ukraine. The event concluded with a precision drill performance and a ceremonial unfurling of a giant Victory Banner replica, followed by the Immortal Regiment march through the city center.
Around 2,000 participants and 40 pieces of military equipment took part in the Victory Day parade in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Buryatia, on Thursday, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany.
The parade opened with ceremonial color guards and featured historical reenactments, with troops in WWII-era uniforms marching alongside current military personnel. Visiting Mongolian service members joined the procession in a symbolic gesture of wartime alliance. Mongolian cavalry riders and thematic floats recreated key episodes of the Great Patriotic War, including the June 22, 1941 invasion and the Siberian infantry’s mobilization.
Festivities across Ulan-Ude will continue throughout the day, culminating in a fireworks display at 10pm local time.
Thousands of people took part in the Immortal Regiment march in the city of Magadan on the shores of the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia’s Far East, honoring the memory of relatives who fought in the Great Patriotic War.
The event featured a rare aerial tribute: helicopters flew over the city carrying portraits of Soviet airmen. Leading the airborne procession was a Mi-38 helicopter bearing the image of Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Borisov, who flew 80 long-range bombing missions during the war and struck Berlin five times. Among those honored was veteran Ivan Trusov, whose portrait was carried aloft by his grandson – now an aviator himself. The march concluded with a commemorative rally and concert at the central city square.
More than 3,000 troops and over 140 units of military and special equipment took part in a Victory Day parade in Russia’s far eastern city of Khabarovsk.
The parade featured a wide range of forces, including honor guards, cadets, decorated participants of the special military operation, and female service members. A mechanized column included WWII-era vehicles like the T-34 tank and BM-13 “Katyusha,” alongside modern systems such as the T-80BVM, Iskander-M missile complex, and S-400 air defense system.
Newly fielded gear such as the “Tornado-S” multiple rocket launcher, “Uran-6” demining robot, and Khabarovsk-built “Yerofey” buggies were also on display. The event concluded with a performance by the Khabarovsk garrison orchestra, which debuted the song “Rodnaya Strana.”
Belogorsk, the city of just over 60,000 residents in the Amur Region, also hosted a full-scale parade with more than 1,000 servicemen, 300 youth cadets, and around 20 units of military equipment, according to the Eastern Military District. Belogorsk hosts the headquarters of the Eastern Military District’s general army, making it the smallest locality in the country to regularly organize a Victory Day parade.
The march began with a drum corps, followed by troops from artillery, communications, air defense, logistics, and electronic warfare units, as well as radiation, chemical and biological protection personnel. Female service members also took part in unified parade formations.
The mechanized column was led by a legendary T-34-85 tank and the BM-13 “Katyusha” rocket launcher. These were followed by T-80BV tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, ARS-14KM decontamination units, and tracked Aleut all-terrain vehicles. For the first time, the column also included CF-500 quad bikes and Desert Cross 1000 utility vehicles.
The city of Chita in Eastern Russia celebrated the Victory Day with a large-scale military parade featuring nearly 2,000 participants and more than 50 units of combat and support equipment, the Eastern Military District has reported.
The event opened with the ceremonial presentation of the Russian flag and a copy of the Victory Banner. Marching in formation were servicemen from the Eastern Military District’s general army headquarters, air defense units, missile troops, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) defense specialists, as well as cadets, female personnel and police officers. The parade also featured a unified military orchestra of the Chita Garrison.
Historic T-34 tanks and SU-100 self-propelled guns led the mechanized column, followed by modern T-72B3M tanks equipped with upgraded 125mm guns and “Relikt” reactive armor. A notable element of this year’s event was the participation of decorated veterans from the special military operation, including recipients of the Order of Courage and medals “For Valor.”
Governor Aleksandr Osipov addressed attendees, paying tribute to the fallen of the Great Patriotic War and to those currently serving. “Today in the ranks and on the parade stands are participants of our generation’s war against Nazism,” he said.
The military parade in Vladivostok, held on the city’s central Lenin Square, featured over 1,900 participants, including more than 1,000 servicemen of the Pacific Fleet. Admiral Viktor Liina, Commander of the Pacific Fleet, presided over the event and honored veterans and fallen soldiers in his remarks.
“Veterans gave you freedom. Freedom to live, love, rejoice, create, and boldly move forward,” he said.
This year’s parade included troops in historical WWII uniforms, a special standard-bearing group carrying flags of Soviet war fronts, and units composed of participants in the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine. The mechanized column featured more than 50 military vehicles, led by historic T-34 tanks and followed by modern systems including T-80BV tanks, BMP-3 infantry vehicles, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, and “Bal” and “Bastion” coastal missile systems.
The Immortal Regiment march followed immediately after, with thousads of residents carrying portraits of relatives who fought in the war.
The city of Ussuriysk in the Russian Far East also held a Victory Day military parade, featuring more than 1,240 servicemen and over 50 military vehicles, according TASS. The parade was led by a drum corps from the Ussuriysk Suvorov Military School, followed by marching columns of Eastern Military District personnel, cadets, and servicemen who had participated in the special military operation.
Participants included members of motor rifle and tank regiments, as well as signal and support units.
The mechanized column was opened by a historic BM-13 “Katyusha” rocket launcher and an MS-1 tank – one of the earliest models used by the Red Army – symbolizing the continuity of military tradition. These were followed by modern armored vehicles and combat systems, with local officials emphasizing the importance of preserving historical memory.
The first official Victory Day parade in Russia marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany took place in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the capital of the Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.
According to the Unified Command of the Forces in Russia’s Northeast, around 1,100 personnel from local military units marched in formation through Lenin Square — the city’s main square — in a ceremonial display honoring the Great Patriotic War.
The parade was followed by a theatrical performance titled “And Yet We Won!”, which dramatized key episodes of the 1941–1945 war through a staged historical reenactment. The event was attended by thousands of local residents, military families, and veterans, marking the beginning of Victory Day celebrations across Russia’s 11 time zones.
Ahead of the Victory Day celebrations, Berlin police issued a ban on displaying Soviet flags and symbols at World War II memorials during the city’s events marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, including a prohibition on singing Soviet songs in public.
The Russian Embassy in Berlin strongly criticized the restrictions, stating they violated the rights of descendants of Soviet soldiers and concerned residents. “We deem the ban unjustified, discriminatory, and degrading to human dignity, and view it as a clear manifestation of historical revisionism and political opportunism,” the embassy said in a statement.
In 2023, Berlin police prohibited both Russian and Soviet flags during Victory Day commemorations. In 2024, authorities extended the ban to include Russian and Soviet symbols, such as the red Victory Banner and the letters “Z” and “V,” which have become associated with Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. In both years, some individuals defied the ban by wearing Soviet military attire and displaying the restricted flags.
08 May 2025
Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Kirill Peskov congratulated their fellow citizens on Victory Day from aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
To mark the occasion, the crew brought a replica of the Victory Banner — the iconic Soviet flag raised over the Reichstag in Berlin in May 1945 — to the orbital outpost.
“Today, we remember those who won the Great Victory in bloody battles and liberated the world from fascism,” the crew said in a video message. “We bow our heads to those who helped stop the enemy and never returned from the battlefield. We honor those who forged the weapons of victory on the home front, who endured hunger, bombings, and devastation. We thank those who rebuilt the country from ruins in the shortest time.”
“We will remember the heroism of our ancestors in the Great Patriotic War and pass this memory on to future generations,” the cosmonauts added.
The Russian Embassy in Washington, DC, hosted commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War. Over 150 participants, including diplomats, their families, and members of the Russian diaspora, gathered for the Immortal Regiment march and the Garden of Memory ceremony.
During the procession, accompanied by wartime songs, attendees carried portraits of relatives who fought in World War II, honoring their sacrifices. Russian Ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, led the march, holding portraits of his grandfather’s brothers.
“We gathered to honor the memory of our relatives and friends who fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, those who died without seeing Victory Day, and those who returned and rebuilt the country,” Ambassador Darchiev said, highlighting the significance of the Immortal Regiment initiative in preventing the erasure of the Soviet soldier’s heroism from history.
Following the march, participants took part in the Garden of Memory ceremony, planting 20 lilac bushes on the embassy grounds. This tradition, ongoing since 2020, symbolizes gratitude to those who contributed to the war effort. Ambassador Darchiev noted that lilac bouquets were used by European residents to welcome Red Army soldiers, making the planting a poignant tribute.
RT used AI to recreate Yuri Levitan’s announcement of Germany’s WWII surrender
At 2:10am, famous Soviet radio announcer Yuri Levitan read the full text of the German Instrument of Surrender and broadcast the following announcement across the entire country:
On May 8, 1945, in Berlin, representatives of the German command signed the German Instrument of Surrender. The Great Patriotic War, which the Soviet people waged against the German fascist invaders, is victoriously over. Germany has been completely defeated.
Comrades, Red Army soldiers, Red Navy sailors, sergeants, foremen, army and navy officers, generals, admirals and marshals! I congratulate you on the victorious end of the Great Patriotic War!
In commemoration of the complete victory over Germany, today, on May 9, on Victory Day, at 22:00, the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, on behalf of the Motherland, will salute the valiant troops of the Red Army, ships and units of the Navy that have won this brilliant victory with thirty artillery volleys from a thousand guns.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the battles for the freedom and independence of our Motherland! Long live the victorious Red Army and the Navy!
Exactly 80 years ago, at 12:43am Moscow time on May 9, 1945, the Instrument of Unconditional Surrender of Nazi Germany was signed, officially ending the Great Patriotic War — in which the Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people, including around 19 million civilians killed by the Nazi invaders and their collaborators.