Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the 75th Victory Day Parade through Moscow’s Red Square on Tuesday, which marks the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Addressing the gathering in Moscow, he said that the world owed the Soviet Union a debt of gratitude for having defeated the Nazi German force in World War II.
“It is impossible even to imagine what the world would be if the Red Army hadn’t come to defend it”, Putin said, adding that the Soviet “freed European countries from invaders, put an end to the terrible tragedy of the Holocaust, saved the German people from Nazism, from its deadly ideology”.
He also urged the millions of Russians who were watching his televised address to remember the sacrifices made by the Soviet Union and how the majority of the burden against Nazi Germany had been on their shoulders.
The Victory Day Parade was postponed for the first time in years because of the coronavirus pandemic. This was then rescheduled, after the lockdown measures were eased in the country.
Notably, Rajnath Singh, India’s Defence Minister took part in the Victory Day celebrations. As an expression of solidarity, the tri-service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces participated in the parade, and marched at the Red Square. The Indian Army contingent is one of the armed forces to participate in this parade, along with 11 other countries, including China.