Many activities are held to commemorate Victory Day over Fascism (May 9).

Sixty-eight years ago, on May 9th, with immense losses and unparalleled courage, the Soviet army and people, the Allies, and many countries around the world achieved a historic victory, defeating fascism, a scourge of humanity, and ending World War II. On May 9th, the whole world remembers all those who participated in making this great victory possible.

In the Russian Federation, decades later, May 9th remains a day of national unity. The Soviet Union, a major contributor to the victory over fascism, suffered the greatest losses in World War II, with 26.6 million deaths, including 8,660,400 Red Army soldiers.

Russia celebrates the victory over fascism. (Source: RIA Novosti)

On May 9th, at 7 p.m. local time, all Russians will observe a minute of silence to remember those who died in the fight against fascism. All radio and television broadcasts will cease to commemorate the heroic deeds of the Soviet army and people in the Great Patriotic War. This minute of silence has become a traditional ceremony on Victory Day since 1965.

The centerpiece of the celebrations marking the 68th anniversary of the victory over fascism was the military parade in Red Square, featuring more than 11,000 Russian soldiers and officers, witnessed from the podium by President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

During the parade, Russia will showcase weapons such as the modern T-90A tank, and advanced missile systems like the Topol-M, Pansihr-S, Iskander-M, and S-400 Triumph. Ten specialized aircraft of the Russian Air Force will participate in ensuring good weather conditions for Victory Day celebrations in the skies over Moscow.

The festivities will conclude in Moscow with a massive fireworks display at 10 p.m. local time at 14 locations. Fireworks will also be launched in all of Russia's hero cities, such as...Saint Petersburg,Volgograd,Novorossiysk, Tula,SmolenskandMurmansk, along with cities that house the headquarters of the Russian army.

Besides the main event, the parade in Red Square, there are many other commemorative activities such as concerts, veterans' gatherings, processions of photographs of those who fought in the war, and exhibitions of war relics. More than 175,000 police and soldiers are ensuring security and order for the commemorative activities in the Russian Federation. According to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, approximately 8,500 commemorative events are taking place in more than 4,000 settlements across over 60 regions of the Russian Federation, with the participation of about 10 million people.

On May 9th, Ukraine saw parades by military bands, wreath-laying ceremonies at war memorials and the Victory Wall in Kyiv, and a naval parade in the port of Sevastopol.

Earlier on May 8th, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych signed a law ratifying the agreement "to forever remember the courage and heroism of the people of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945". According to this agreement, the state is obligated to preserve and beautify cemeteries and memorials, continue the search for and burial of the remains of those who sacrificed their lives, and organize the verification and clarification of the events concerning the immortal achievements of the CIS people in the Great Patriotic War.

In Kyrgyzstan, Victory Day on May 9th is also a national holiday, with many commemorative activities such as parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, and visits to veterans. During the war, nearly 300,000 Kyrgyz people fought on the anti-fascist fronts, about one-third of whom never returned... Currently, there are more than 8,500 veterans in the country who participated in the Great Patriotic War.

Commemorative activities marking the 68th anniversary of the victory over fascism were also held in CIS countries such as Moldova and Georgia.

In the UK, Austria, and North Korea, commemorative activities celebrating the victory over fascism also took place, such as laying wreaths at monuments to Soviet soldiers who died in World War II, meeting with veterans, concerts, and exhibitions.

A parade and other commemorative activities were also held on May 8th at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the participation of Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim.

Brazil was the only Latin American country to directly participate in the fight against fascism in World War II, with 25,000 soldiers, of whom 2,500 perished on the battlefield.

According to (VNA) - DT