6/30/2023 0 Comments Victory day parade![]() This was larger than the parade held in May 2008, in which military hardware made its re-appearance on Red Square, the number of personnel increased by 1,000 and the aerial component doubled in size (RIA Novosti, May 9). The Victory Day parade was the largest since the collapse of the Soviet Union, including 9,000 personnel, accompanied by a military orchestra of 1,100 musicians, 110 pieces of heavy equipment and 70 aircraft and helicopters. It also paid for city workers to clean a large Soviet symbol -a red and gold star- to be placed above the GUM department store for the occasion (ITAR-TASS, May 9). ![]() Local authorities in Moscow confirmed that expenditure had involved repairing paving slabs on Red Square and in the surrounding area, as well as preparing the roads for the arrival of military vehicles. The cost of staging the parade itself was estimated at 205 million rubles ($6.3 million). This involved training the various military units for almost two months in Alabino, 50 kilometers south-west of Moscow which boasts a replica of Red Square. The preparations for the parade had been costly and intensive. He referred to personnel taking part in the parade that had, "proven the high capability of the Russian military in real action" (Interfax, May 9). Medvedev avoided any specific reference to the war with Georgia in August 2008, though he alluded to the five-day conflict, saying that the lesson of World War II "remains acute today when again there are those who engage in military adventurism." Moreover, amongst his Victory Day messages of congratulations, Medvedev also included the leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It also served as a temporary escape from the reality of the crisis within Russia’s armed forces and the deepening economic malaise affecting the country (ITAR-TASS, May 9). The display of "military power" which ensued was assiduously calculated to offer a striking visual image against which Medvedev could warn any country considering "military adventurism" against Russia. As the Spassky Tower on Red Square struck 10:00 am, the parade began, overseen by President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin from a dais erected in front of Lenin’s mausoleum concealed by a Russian tricolor in an effort to avoid its more obvious Soviet overtones. On Victory Day, Red Square is reserved for veterans and government officials, and is off-limits to the general public. However, as a guest at the Hotel National you’ll enjoy the next best vantage point.The Victory Day military parade in Moscow on May 9, marking the 64th anniversary of the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany, offered a curious mixture of pomp, myth and nostalgia -all vital elements for the Russian leadership. Today it is one of the Russian capital’s most luxurious hotels, but on this particular tour, its location is crucial: the National faces the Kremlin. This historic landmark was built in 1903, the work of Russian architect Alexander Ivanov. We have arranged your accommodation at the five star Hotel National, part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection portfolio. Alongside Red Square and the Kremlin, you’ll take a boat trip along the Moskva River and visit a museum dedicated to those who displayed great courage during World War Two. You’ll enjoy an extended stay in the Russian capital, giving you plenty of time to absorb its splendour, cultural richness and long history. Moscow is a thrill to visit at any time of year, but this special six day Moscow tour gives you the opportunity to watch Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations, a spectacular event centred on a display of the country’s military strength.
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