Russia: new date of Victory Day parade depends on coronavirus situation.

On April 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that both the Victory Day parade and the Immortal Regiment’s march would not be held as usual on May 9, but would take place later this year, depending on the coronavirus situation in Russia,

T-14 Armata MBT at the Victory Day parade 2019 (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)

Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said in an interview with RTVI that the parade is held first of all for Russians, for WWII veterans and their descendants. "New dates will be set with time, considering the dynamics of the epidemics. It is impossible to say now how. It will coincide with schedules of other heads of state and government".

Peskov stressed that the 75th anniversary of victory in World War II is important for many countries. "By the way, this was demonstrated by the presidents — I mean, the presidents of Russia and the United States — who adopted and published a joint statement on the anniversary of the Elbe River encounter. This was very important," Peskov commented. Elbe Day, April 25, 1945, is the day Soviet and American troops met at the Elbe River, near Torgau in Germany, marking an important step toward the end of World War II in Europe. This contact between the Soviets, advancing from the East, and the Americans, advancing from the West, meant that the two powers had effectively cut Germany in two. Elbe Day has never been an official holiday in any country, but in the years after 1945, the memory of this friendly encounter gained new significance in the context of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

During the last editions of victory parades in Russia, mainly in Moscow and St.Petersburg, more and more British-made and U.S.-made tanks, trucks, Jeeps, etc. among the tens of thousands received by the USSR in the framework of the Lend-Lease Act take part after having been totally refurbished, like many other Soviet vehicles of World War 2, an absolute delight for historical military vehicles enthusiasts!

British-made Valentine Mk.V tank received by the USSR in the framework of the Lend-Lease Act (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)

BM-13-16 MLRS on U.S.-made Studebaker US6-U3 chassis, one of the famous “Stalin Organs” models. The rocket launching system was also mounted on Chevrolet 4x4 chassis (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)

T-20 Komsomolets artillery tractor, one of the many different WW2 Soviet vehicles splendidly restored to revive history. What is called "reenactment groups" is a growing trend in  several parts of the world, including Russia (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)