The military parade took place at A.V. Suvorov Central Square in the capital to mark the 71st anniversary of Great Victory of the Soviet people over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War and the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Pridnestrovie from the German-Romanian invaders. The parade was watched by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the PMR Yevgeny Shevchuk.
Tank T-34 passed through the square with an official copy of the Victory Banner. We remind that the copy of Banner - the national symbol that embodies the Soviet people’s heroic feat, the grateful memory of descendants for peace and freedom in their native land - was passed by the Russian side to the Pridnestrovian people on May 9, 2014.
Members of the PMR Armed Forces, the PMR Ministry of Internal Affairs, the PMR State Security Committee marched in review in front of the city residents and guests. In addition, the cadets from the Lieutenant-General A.I. Lebed Military Institute of the PMR Ministry of Defence, the Tiraspol Order of Labour Glory of the M.I. Kutuzov Law Institute were involved in the parade. The military hardware of the Pridnestrovian army also passed through the central square.
The participation of military personnel and hardware of the Operational Group of Russian Forces was a feature of the parade – for the first time in 25 years of the Pridnestrovian history.
Level of proficiency in arms drill was shown today by the Honour Guard Company. The combined military orchestra from the military bands of military units of the PMR Ministry of Defence provided musical accompaniment of the parade. Nine columns of parade team were involved in the parade, 650 soldiers participated in it.
On the occasion of 71st anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, President Yevgeny Shevchuk addressed a congratulatory speech to veterans and servicemen, Pridnestrovians and guests of the republic.
Yevgeny Shevchuk: “Dear citizens of Pridnestrovie, citizens of Russia! Dear veterans, compatriots, soldiers, sergeants, master sergeants, warrant officers, officers! Congratulations on Victory Day!
Today we celebrate the 71st year since that memorable day when the Soviet soldier defeating fascism defended its homeland and restore peace!
The memory of the Soviet soldier’s heroism is passed from grandparents to grandchildren, from generation to generation. It is gratifying that the inheritors of Great Victory - servicemen of the Russian group of troops and Pridnestrovian security forces - pay tribute to the Victors on the Victory Day holiday that is significant for all of us!
Dear veterans!
Your immortal feat and love for the country are a worthy example of serving to the native land and the lesson for all mankind. Today, as once in the 40 years of the last century, in the Victory Day parade here, in Tiraspol – the city founded by the great Russian General Alexander Suvorov - there are Russians and Moldavians, Ukrainians and Belorussians together...
Victory Day unites all of us with the Soviet people’s feat, the feat of our grandfathers, fathers, relatives and friends.
The horrors of the Second World War claimed the lives of more than 29 million of our compatriots, tens of thousands of people from towns and villages of modern Pridnestrovie perished on battlefields and during the occupation. Eternal memory to the defenders of the Homeland, who gave their lives for the salvation of Homeland!
Homeland and peace are the inestimable categories which were considered as sacred by the generation of Victors! We hold the memory of Great Victory Day sacred. Here in Pridnestrovie we keenly feel the fragility of peace, stability and tranquility today as well. The peace on the banks of the Dniester has been supported by the Russian soldier for many centuries and today.
Victory Day is a holiday that unites all of us, citizens of the former USSR - the inheritors of Great Victory.
Eternal memory to the fallen heroes! We bow low before veterans!
Glory to the Victorious People! We congratulate you!
Happy Victory Day! Hooray!!!”
Finally, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the PMR Yevgeny Shevchuk personally thanked the commanders of military units for their service and excellent preparation for the parade. “It is a unique parade today: the military forces of the Russian group have taken part in it for the first time. As you know, in those days, during the war, we were all as one, we defended our common Homeland regardless of nationality. It unites us! I believe that we will live in a united country sooner or later, and sooner is better,” noted the president speaking to journalists.
We remind that holding the military parade in honour of the 71st anniversary of Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War and the 72nd anniversary of the liberation of Pridnestrovie from the German-Romanian invaders was approved by Order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the PMR of 20 April this year.
