Victory Day Parade – 2025 in Moscow: what time does it start, watch online
Victory Day is one of the most important holidays in history. This significant date is dedicated to the feat of Soviet soldiers who fought with dignity against the Nazi invaders during the Great Patriotic War (WWII) from June 1941 to May 1945. Every year, in memory of this event, the Victory Day Parade takes place on Moscow's Red Square. The origins of the tradition, what time it will be and how to get to the Victory Day Parade in 2025 are in the Izvestia article.
May 9: how old is Victory in 2025
In 2025, May 9 marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War. In January 1945, the Soviet army launched an offensive against Berlin. As a result of the fighting, at 00:43 Moscow time on May 9, the commanders-in-chief signed the act of unconditional surrender of Germany, which served as the end of the Great Patriotic War. In Europe, Victory Day is celebrated on May 8 due to the time difference. The Second World War lasted until the surrender of Japan, until September 2, 1945.
On the occasion of the anniversary, Izvestia launched a special project "80 days to Victory." It publishes articles published during the war, the full list of which can be found in the electronic archive. A virtual museum dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory has also been created, featuring photographs of the war years and war heroes. Now you can see them, including on media facades in different cities of Russia.
Victory Day Parade in Moscow – 2025: date and time
The Victory Day Parade on the central square of the capital is considered one of the key symbols of the Great Patriotic War. However, the tradition was not observed continuously, from 1946 to 1947 the parade was not held, and in 1948 the march was canceled altogether for 20 years. The tradition was resumed only in 1965, and the next Victory Day events were held in 1985 and 1990.
In 2025, the Victory Day Parade on Stolichnaya Square will be held on May 9, the march starts at 10 a.m. and lasts until 12 p.m. Preparations for the anniversary celebration began in early April, and even earlier, at the end of February, the mobile ground-based Yars missile system arrived at the rehearsal of the march near Moscow. Military equipment is demonstrated annually at the Victory Day Parade, and all types of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, representatives of law enforcement agencies, and cadets of military schools take part in the march. In total, more than 10 thousand people will take part in the parade.
This year, the anniversary parade is expected to be attended by the leaders of 20 foreign countries.
In honor of Victory Day, Russians will take a break from work from May 8 to 11.
Rehearsal of the Victory Day Parade – 2025 in Moscow: schedule, when the general
The next rehearsals of the parade are expected on April 29 and May 3 from 16:00 to 19:00. In this regard, traffic will be blocked in the city center.
The dress rehearsal of the Victory Day Parade on Red Square will take place two days before the event — on May 7, 2025, from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. The rehearsal will repeat exactly the festive program. Traditionally, the columns will move towards Red Square from Nizhni Mnevniki Street.
The program of the Victory Day Parade on Red Square includes:
— bringing the Russian flag and Victory Banner to the square;
— the speech of the head of state and the subsequent minute of silence;
— solemn march of guards of honor, military personnel and orchestra;
— a parade of military equipment from different eras;
— air force parade.
Victory Day Parade in Moscow on May 9, 2025: where and at what time to watch the online broadcast
The online broadcast of the Victory Day Parade on Red Square will be available on Russia's main TV channels.: Channel One, Rossiya 1, REN TV, etc. In addition, the live broadcast of the march will be shown on a variety of Internet resources. Last year, Izvestia also broadcast the Victory Day Parade, and it will be possible to watch the broadcast on May 9, 2025. The start of the live broadcast coincides with the start of the Victory March — 10 a.m. Moscow time.
Vladimir Putin's speech on May 9, 2025
Every year, Head of State Vladimir Putin takes the floor at the Victory Day Parade. In 2022, the president's speech began 15 minutes after the official start of the march. In his speech, the president usually emphasizes the feat of veterans of the Great Patriotic War and the contribution of home front workers. He notes the importance of preserving the memory of those who crushed Nazism and the pride of the victorious generation.
How to get to the Victory Day Parade on Red Square: do they sell tickets
Tickets for the May 9 parade are not on sale, and you can only get to the event by individual invitation. They are issued to veterans and families of veterans, high-ranking officials, members of the government, heads of other states and other honored guests. The stands of the Red Square are designed for 1.5–2 thousand people, technically it is impossible to install more seats.
Although it is impossible for an ordinary citizen to get to the Victory Day Parade, many people watch the procession during rehearsals. The first evening rehearsals will begin in Moscow on April 20th around 6 p.m. The morning runs start in early May at 6 a.m.
Due to the Victory Day march, many streets of Moscow will be closed starting from May 7. Streets affected by traffic closures:
— Garden ring;
— Marxist Street;
— Volgogradsky Prospekt;
— Sadovo-Spasskaya, Sadovo-Kudrinskaya, Sadovo-Chernogryazskaya, Sadovo-Karetnaya, Sadovo-Triumfalnaya streets;
— Zemlyanoy Val Street;
— Gravity flyover;
— Armory Lane;
— Mayakovsky tunnel;
— Taganskaya Square.
Popular points for watching the parade rehearsal among the townspeople: Mnevniki Street, Novy Arbat, high-rise terrace on Kudrinskaya Square.
Victory Day Parade in 1945: when it took place, who took part and commanded, video
The Victory Day parade in the Great Patriotic War was held on June 24, 1945. The weather on the day of the first Victory Day Parade was quite cloudy, it was raining heavily. At exactly 10 a.m., Marshal of the Soviet Union and three-time Hero of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov came out of the gates of the Spasskaya Tower on Red Square, accompanied by Major General Pyotr Zelensky. In the center of the square they met with the Hero of the Union Konstantin Rokossovsky and his adjutant Colonel Klykov. To thunderous applause, the commanders began a detour of the troops. Zhukov greeted the soldiers of each regiment and congratulated them on their victory over Germany. The Victory Day Parade in 1945 was opened by the Karelian Front regiment, led by Marshal of the Soviet Union Kirill Meretskov.
Victory Day Parade on Red Square: interesting facts
The second Victory Day Parade in the USSR was held in 1965, the march was revived by the USSR Secretary General Leonid Brezhnev, later parades were held in 1985 and 1990. In 2000, 55 years after the Victory, 5,000 veterans took part in the parade, at the same time they marched on foot for the last time. In 2005, they rode on trucks, and since 2010 they have participated only as spectators.
At the first march in 1945, more than 200 banners of German troops were thrown at the foot of the Mausoleum, they were thrown on a special platform so that there would be no contact with the covering of Red Square. The fighters touched the banners exclusively with gloves, demonstrating their disgust for enemy artifacts.
The most exciting moment of the second Victory Day Parade in 1965 is considered to be the taking out of the Victory Banner. In the same year, the parade was broadcast on television for the first time. At the same time, the 8K713, 8K96 and 8K99 intercontinental missiles, a novelty of those years, were transported through Red Square. Their flight range is 40 thousand km — the length of the equator. The tradition of displaying heavy military equipment was consolidated only in 2008. Before that, it was shown only on anniversaries.
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