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Russian army holds Victory Day Parade on Moscow Red Square.

10 May, 2021 8:17 | 2021

A military parade to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s Victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War took place on Moscow’s Red Square on May 9, the official date of the unconditional surrender act signed in Berlin by Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel.
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B-11 object 695 Kurganets-25 with Epokha turret (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)

For the first time this year, three heavy Mi-26 military transport helicopters opened the aerial parade. They were followed by five Mi-8 multirole helicopters famous for their ability to cope with diverse tasks and operate in various climatic conditions. The army aviation’s flyover was concluded by advanced Mi-35 attack helicopters of the Berkuts (Golden Eagles) aerobatic group and also Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ and Mi-28N ‘Night Hunter’ gunships.

The airborne parade proceeded with a flyover of three Il-76 aircraft that are the backbone of Russia’s military transport aviation. Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers flew in parade formations over Moscow’s Red Square followed by two Il-78 aerial refueling tankers, which demonstrated mid-air refueling. One of Tupolev Tu-160 bombers flew in a single dense formation with four fighters.

The aerial parade continued with a flyover of advanced Su-35S fighters designated for gaining air supremacy. Spectators could also observe Su-24 frontline bombers, which had actually been the basic striking force of Russia’s counter-terror operation in Syria, and four MiG-31K supersonic fighters carrying cutting-edge Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. They were followed by four latest Su-57 fifth-generation fighters and a composite group of ten Su-34, Su-30SM and Su-35S combat planes of the Lipetsk Aviation Center.

Traditionally, the aerial parade was concluded by the Kubinka Diamond stunt of MiG-29 and Su-30SM planes flown by Strizhi (Swifts) and Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic groups. They were followed by six Su-25 attack aircraft that flew over Moscow’s Red Square, releasing smoke in the colors of the Russian national flag.

Hereunder is a selection of pictures taken by Vitaly Kuzmin during rehearsals of the parade.

For the Victory Parade 2021, no less than ten T-34/85 tanks dating back to World War 2 took part, an unprecedented achievement (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)