MOSCOW, April 24. /TASS/. Victory Day parade on Moscow's Red Square will become the largest one in Russia's contemporary history, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday as he address a meeting of the ministry board.
"More than 15,000 participants will be engaged in it, including the military from the Armed Forces of CIS member-states and foreign countries," he said. "They will make up ten parade squadrons."
In addition, the number of military vehicles taking part in this year's event is 50% bigger than last year about 200 units all in all. "Most of them are samples of the vehicles our Armed Forces are operating at present," Shoigu said.
For the first time ever, new-generation artillery mounts Koalitsiya-SV, Yar strategic missile complexes, Kornet-D complexes, a tank in the highly promising Armata family, which is in the development phase now, as well as novel combat vehicles for the infantry and airborne troops will traverse Red Square during the parade.
Traditionally, the display of armor and technologies will include a march-past of World War II army vehicles. The aerial section of the parade will feature 143 jets and helicopters of the Russian Air Force. "This is two times more than last year," Shoigu said.
Parades including the marches-past of dismounted squadrons and columns of combat vehicles will be held in more than thirty Russian cities, nine of which have the official status of a 'hero city' and host the staffs of military districts, fleets, all-arms armies, army corps, or the space flotilla.
"Troops will parade in more than 150 cities and towns and the total number of servicemen taking part in the festive functions this year stands at around 85,000," Shoigu said.