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Russian President Vladimir Putin urges citizens to 'unite' amid toned down Victory Day celebration

WION Web Team
New Delhi, IndiaUpdated: May 10, 2020, 09:08 AM IST
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Russian President Vladimir Putin urges citizens to 'unite' amid toned down Victory Day celebration Photograph:(Reuters)

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The Victory Day marks the day when Allied forces won against Nazi Germany in 1945, the virus spread forced to postpone the main annual parade on Moscow's Red Square. 

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his fellow citizens that they are unbeatable when they stand together during the celebrations of victory in World War Two that were cut down because of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Putin's speech sent a message of "unity" as Russia fights coronavirus. The country has surpassed France and Germany to become the fifth worst-hit nation in terms of coronavirus outbreak. 

The Victory Day marks the day when Allied forces won against Nazi Germany in 1945, the virus spread forced to postpone the main annual parade on Moscow's Red Square. 

Putin made his first public appearance after weeks and had a low-key remembrance day but assured his countrymen that the parade to mark 75th anniversary will be held when the time will be right. 

"Our veterans fought for life and against death, and we will always try to live up to their spirit of unanimity and resilience," Putin said after laying a bouquet of red roses at the Eternal Flame war memorial near the Kremlin.

"We are united by our shared memory, hopes and aspirations, as well as a sense of shared responsibility for the present and the future. We know and strongly believe that when we stand together, we are invincible."

The low-key celebrations involved guards from the Kremlin Regiment doing a march past after Putin's speech and  75 military planes and helicopters, including advanced Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighters, flew over central Moscow despite cloudy skies, with one group of jets leaving a trail in the sky in the colours of the Russian flag.

The state television broadcast replayed last year's Red Square parade.