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Tanks, missiles roll through Red Square on Victory
Day
9m Red Army soldiers killed in World War II remembered
Moscow— Missiles, tanks and other heavy weaponry
rolled through Moscow’s Red Square in the annual Victory Day parade
Friday, reviving a tradition of the Soviet era and demonstrating
Russia’s growing military confidence.
Victory Day, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, is Russia’s most
important secular holiday, both honouring the enormous sacrifices of
World War II, in which nearly 9 million Red Army soldiers are
estimated to have died, and asserting the country’s military
strength.
Russia has nearly quadrupled its defense spending in recent years,
aiming to resuscitate the military forces that deteriorated in the
post-Soviet period.
Topol missiles, which have the capacity to carry nuclear warheads,
were part of the display of more than 100 tanks, mobile missile
units and armored vehicles that was aimed at underlining the
military revival. But many of the heavy weapons shown were only
slightly modernized versions of equipment developed decades ago.
Although the display was significantly smaller than in Soviet-era
parades, the return of the tradition has raised concerns that Russia
harbors aggressive ambitions.
But President Dmitry Medvedev, in a speech opening the parade, said
“the true purpose of weapons and military equipment is to give
reliable defense of the homeland.”
Medvedev, who took office Wednesday, stayed away from controversial
statements such as predecessor Vladimir Putin’s parade speech last
year, which implied parallels between the U.S. and the Adolf
Hitler’s Third Reich. But he said “we must not allow contempt for
the norms of international law.”
Russia has consistently criticized both the U.S.-led war in Iraq and
wide Western recognition of Kosovo’s independence as arrogant
violations of international principles.
Putin, who was named Russian prime minister on Thursday, stood just
behind Medvedev’s shoulder and his face was prominently shown in TV
broadcasts as the president spoke — underlining the wide belief that
Putin will be the power behind the presidency.
Although Russian officials deny any intentions of returning to
Soviet ways, the style and symbolism of Victory Day is heavily
redolent of the Communist era.
Posters proclaiming the holiday throughout the city include the
hammer-and-sickle insignia, which is also seen on the banners and
period uniforms used by some of the regiments, which goose-stepped
across the 6-acre (2.5-hectare) square under clear skies.—Agencies
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