Shoigu told about the extent of the anniversary parade on May 9 in Red Square – RBC

Members of the military parade on Red Square. Archival photo

Photo: TASS

«As to features of the main events of May 9 – Victory Day parade on Red Square – at compared with a jubilee parade 2010 the number of foot columns will increase by nearly 50%, to more than 15 thousand. man “- quoted Minister TASS. This statement was made at a meeting Shoigu organizational comitates “Victory”. Opened the meeting with Vladimir Putin.

The structure of the mechanized column to pass on the pavement in the parade on Red Square is planned to involve 194 units of weapons and military equipment. In the parade on Red Square May 9, 2014 involved 151 pieces of equipment.

The fact that the military parade on Red Square in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory Day May 9, 2015 will be the largest in the modern history of Russia, the Defense Ministry said in November last year. Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said at the time that the parade will be involved all the military equipment, which is in service with the Russian Army. Parades will be held in 28 cities of Russia, all they planned to involve more than 78.6 thousand. People, about 1.9 thousand. Pieces of weapons and military equipment, 238 aircraft and 51 military ship.

Moscow invited to hits 26 foreign heads of military departments, said today at a meeting of the committee Shoigu. According to him, the two heads of state refused to participate, from several countries, the answer is not yet come.

Earlier, Die Zeit, citing a source from the environment of German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Merkel will arrive in Moscow to celebrate 70 Anniversary of Victory in World War II. Government spokesman Germany soon confirmed that the German Chancellor will not, explaining that “in light of the events in Ukraine” Merkel participate in the traditional military parade on Red Square is impossible ».

Merkel will visit Moscow next day, May 10. Later refused to attend the parade of British Prime Minister David Cameron and President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski.

At the end of 2014 Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Victory invited the leaders of many Western countries, including Barack Obama. Later, US Ambassador to Russia John Tafft said that Obama has no plans to come to Moscow on May 9. Shoigu told about the extent of the anniversary parade on May 9 in Red Square