Rustam Minnikhanov: Feat of our compatriots during WWII will never be erased from our memory

On 9 May Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, the State Counselor of the republic Mintimer Shaimiev, Prime Minister of the republic Aleksey Pesoshin and WWII veterans took part in a celebratory parade dedicated to the 77th anniversary of the victory in WWII 1941-1945 held in Kazan.

The parade started with bringing out the Victory Banner and state flags of Russia and Tatarstan, and then Rustam Minnikhanov addressed the people who gathered in the Millennium Square saying: “Dear participants of the parade, WWII veterans and war workers and dear Tatarstan citizens. From the bottom of my heart I congratulate you with the anniversary of the Great Victory of our multi-national people over German-Fascist occupants!

Our people paid high price for the victory and more than 700 thousand people went to the front from Tatarstan to protect their Motherland and the whole world from Fascism. More than half of them never came back but despite all hardships and calamities out people withstood and feats of our compatriots will stay in our memory forever”.

Preservation of glorious traditions of the Victory has a huge meaning for military and patriotic upbringing of youngsters and today it is especially important. Under leadership of its Supreme Commander Vladimir Putin the Russian army decently keeps glorious military traditions of the winners, and the defense potential and prestige of the Russian Army is growing.

Today grand - and grand-grandchildren of the war veterans fulfil their duty by fighting for interests of our Motherland including the special military operation in the Ukraine. I am sure that each participant of the operation understands the high responsibility entrusted to them by the history itself. And we will surely win!”

Then the head of the Kazan Garrison, the director of the Kazan Higher Tank School Kirill Kulakov drove along the ceremonial regiment and reported to Rustam Minnikhanov that the parade was ready to start. 

More than 1 000 military from the Kazan Garrison, the Policemen and workers of the Emergencies Ministry and military cadet schools marched in the parade followed by legendary Т-34-85, ИС-3 and Т-34 tanks, famous Katyushas, СУ-100 SP gun mount and modern armoured personnel carriers.

After the parade Rustam Minnikhanov looked round the military vehicles exhibition which worked till the end of the day.