VICTORY DAY PARADE

The 2014 Moscow Victory Day Parade is a parade that was held on Red
Square on 9 May 2014 to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi
Germany in 1945 formally ending the Second World War in Europe. The annual
parade marks the Allied victory in the Great Patriotic War on the same day as the
signing of the German act of defeat to the Allies in Berlin, at midnight of May 9, 1945
(Russian time). President of Russia Vladimir Putin delivered his third holiday address
to the nation on this day.
Parades were held in 23 major Russian cities, including the new federal city of
Sevastopol, which, as a result of the Crimean crisis was formally incorporated into
the Russian Federation along with the rest of Crimea in March 2014. Sevastopol also
celebrated the 70th anniversary of its liberation from Nazi Germany in May of 1944.
This year, the Crimean Hero City of Kerch also held its first holiday parade, also
celebrated the 70th anniversary of its liberation from Nazi Germany on April 11,
1944. Aside from these, 50 more cities and towns in Russia will hold joint civil
military parades in honour of the holiday celebrations.
April 16, 2014 saw the first joint practice run of the parade at the Alabino
grounds including the fly past column for the first time. Also found joining the parade
for the first time in 4 years was the 1st Cavalry Squadron from the Presidential
Cavalry Escort Battalion, Kremlin Regiment. The Moscow leg of the practice runs
commenced on April 21, 2014 with the mobile column driving its way
along Tverskaya Street for its first practice run in the capital. This was followed by
the first night practice runs on Red Square itself, joined by the bands, the marching
troops and the mobile column, which began on April 29 to 30.
The air flypast column held a practice run above the skies of Moscow on May
3, 2014. All 69 planes joining this year's parade took part, and the run-through was
cheered on by both Muscovites and tourists alike. A final night time practice run was
held on May 5th on Moscow's Red Square. And on May 7th, despite the cold
weather earlier that day, a final parade practice run was held that morning at 10AM
Moscow Time, with General of the Army Shoigu inspecting and with Colonel General
Salyukov leading the contingents, just as they would have done in the actual parade.