Russia Holds Last Military Rehearsal of Victory Day Parade

The last dress rehearsal for Russia's Victory Day Parade took place in Moscow’s Red Square on Sunday ahead of Tuesday's main event.

Over 10,000 troops, some 114 modern arms and military hardware, and 72 aircraft all participated in the rehearsal, which followed the same procedure as will be displayed during Tuesday's real parade.

A total of 46 formations from 29 units marched across the square, including servicemen of higher military educational institutions, Suvorov military schools and Nakhimov naval academies, cadet corps, as well as troops of Russia’s Western Military District, the Emergencies Ministry, the National Guard and the Federal Security Service of Russia.

After the foot parade units came the mechanized formations where, apart from an array of armored vehicles, intercontinental missile launch platform and tanks, the Russian army also displayed some of its most advanced equipment, like the Tor-M2DT surface-to-air missile system, the Pantsyr-SA antiaircraft missile/gun complex and the T-72B3 tanks in public for the very first time.

The parade rehearsal concluded with a series of aircraft formations above the square, with the Russian Knights and Swifts aerobatic teams performing with their newest fighters.

The whole rehearsal lasted for one hour and was held before a crowd of spectators, with the event stirring up strong emotions for many in attendance.

"I've fought in the Second World War. Today I came here to see my successors, to see their combating capacity and preparation. I'm happy to see that we have cultivated a younger generation with good traditions," said Yevgeny Semyonovich Evdokimov, a soldier who served in the Great Patriotic War.
"I am the second to watch the parade in my family. My grandpa used to be an audience member for the parade. He was a tank pilot. It is a great honor to me to watch the parade today. This feeling is hard to describe. I am so happy and excited," said Gafurov Shahzoda, a young spectator.