Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated all veterans of the Great Patriotic war and Russians on May 9. After laying flowers at the grave of the Unknown Soldier, the Russian leader addressed the citizens from a podium set up at the Eternal flame.
«Dear veterans, dear friends! I sincerely congratulate you on the Victory Day. For all of us, this is the most important and most cherished holiday. We always celebrate it solemnly and publicly, all together. The spiritual and moral significance of the Victory Day remains always great, and our attitude to it is sacred, » he said.
The head of state stressed that «this is our memory and pride, the history of our country, the history of every family, a part of our soul that was passed on to us by our fathers and mothers, our grandparents." Putin noted that on this day, the descendants of the generation of winners «acutely feel all the greatness of their destinies», remember those who are no longer around, look lovingly at their faces in photos of different years, and wish long life to veterans.
«They have done so much for the Motherland that it can not be measured, nothing can pay for it. They saved the Fatherland, the lives of future generations, liberated Europe, protected the world, restored cities and villages, and achieved great accomplishments, » the head of state stressed. «We pay tribute to the endless recognition of the great, sacrificial feat of the Soviet people, people of different nationalities who stood shoulder to shoulder at the front and in the rear,» Putin noted that time has no power over their courage and unity, dignity and steely strength of spirit.
The Russian leader reminded that the Kremlin wall has the Eternal flame burning day and night in memory of the heroes who died in the Great Patriotic war, who were forever left in the mass, unknown graves - at Moscow and Smolensk, Stalingrad and Kursk, at Sevastopol and Minsk, Kiev and Riga, at Berlin and Vienna, on the Pulkovo heights, on the banks of the Neva, the Dnieper, the Danube, the Vistula and the Oder.
«Millions of the fallen did not see the Victory - the Victory they so dreamed of, believed that they would overcome the enemy and return to their native home. And they fought for it - fought until their last breath. They gave their lives so that we, our children and grandchildren, those who have not yet been born, who will come to this world, which was defended and saved by the Soviet soldier,» the head of state said.
The head of state observed a Minute of silence for their memory, inviting all Russians to bow their heads «to the bright memory of all who never returned from the war, to the memory of sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, comrades, family, friends».
This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, all the celebrations dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic war were postponed.
As Vladimir Putin stated on April 28, when the threat to the health of citizens, primarily veterans, disappears, a military parade will take place on Red Square, as well as the «Immortal regiment» March.
The President came to the Alexander garden and laid flowers at the Eternal flame.
Also on this day, an air parade was held in Moscow and other Russian cities.
The «Immortal regiment» is held online.
At 22:00 local time in Moscow and in many other cities of Russia, fireworks are displayed.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation