A squadron of SU-25 fighter jets fly over Red Square as they release the colors of the Russian flag during the Victory Day parade, which commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Eight highlights from Putin's Victory Day party
Vladimir Putin joins his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in a direct message to the White House and Europe.
Moscow celebrated the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany and the end of World War II with a show of force and power in Moscow's Red Square this Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by international leaders, and at his side, in a direct message to the White House and Europe, he seated Chinese President Xi Jinping. The selection of images captures some of the highlights of the military commemoration.
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Russia celebrates the end of World War II
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Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin with the interpreter behind
One of the details that was occasionally showcased in the Kremlin blockbuster was the close relationship between Putin and Xi. Behind both leaders, like an indispensable presence, was the much-needed translator.
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Hugs to North Koreans, but no marching
While military contingents from China, Egypt, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan marched, Korean soldiers were among the foreign leaders, according to Putin advisor Yuri Uyzakov. Perhaps to compensate, Putin hugged medal-laden North Korean generals, who were prominently placed in the front row of the podium.
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A vestige of the entry into Berlin
As is customary for the May 9th celebration, the military parade opened with historic tanks, the famous T-34s, symbolizing the Red Army's victory over the Nazis and its entry into Berlin. Shining brightly for the occasion, they had the black and orange Saint George's ribbon painted on their frames, which all the participants and guests wore across their chests. The ribbon commemorates those who died in the Great Patriotic War and has become a widely used symbol by separatists in eastern Ukraine and by nationalists and communists in Russia. The ribbon is historically associated with the Order of Saint George, a military decoration of the Russian Empire established in 1769 by Catherine the Great, which rewarded bravery on the battlefield.
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Intercontinental missile display
The Kremlin blockbuster released this Friday couldn't miss the display of intercontinental missiles. The ones pictured are the Yares. They have a range of between 11,000 and 12,000 km and can carry multiple nuclear warheads to target different targets. They can be launched from both fixed launch platforms and special trucks (mobile platforms), making them difficult to detect and neutralize.
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A choreography full of color but empty
The military parade has been visible on television and YouTube, and has been directed to magnify its power, both internally and externally. The colorful image captures the passage of the soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army in front of the presidential rostrum. The glitter of the parade, of any military parade and celebration, and of any patriotic exaltation, is intended to hide the brutality of war.
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Prominent Chinese presence at the Russian parade
Chinese soldiers take part in the Victory Day military parade held in Moscow's Red Square. As Russian television footage has amply captured, Chinese President Xi Jinping greeted and inspected the detachment—in this case, the People's Liberation Army Honor Guard. China's participation was one of nearly twelve foreign quotas that joined Putin's party.
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A leader who stands out in the country's history
Some of the Russian masters of cinema, Sergei Eisenstein, for example, have already demonstrated this. There is no such thing as an innocent image, and how and where you position the camera determines the effect on the viewer. It's the same for photography, as Leni Riefenstahl demonstrated, in this case putting her eyes at the service of the Nazis. The image you see captures the moment Putin delivers his victory speech. The leader stands out against the background, which is none other than the Kremlin, a symbol of the greatness and history of great Russia.
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Surrounded by bodyguards
In the days leading up to the Moscow events, and despite the supposed three-day truce in Ukraine declared by Putin, rumors of a possible Ukrainian attack on Red Square had spread. But nothing happened. What the images of the leader's arrival and departure have revealed is the enormous security he must be surrounded by. Up to fifteen bodyguards were on guard for the leader's life. To further guarantee security measures, Russian authorities began disabling mobile internet access in the capital an hour before the start of the parade. The pro-Kremlin media outlet Ostorozhno Media reported that Wi-Fi was only available in Red Square.
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Putin lays a wreath at the Unknown Soldier monument
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays a wreath at the Unknown Soldier monument at the Kremlin Wall. He was accompanied by all the foreign leaders in attendance: Xi Jinping (China), Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva (Brazil), Nicolás Maduro (Venezuela), Miguel Díaz-Canel (Cuba), Robert Fico (Prime Minister of Slovakia), and Aleksandar Lukashenko (President of Belarus).