A grand parade with Putin is expected in Sevastopol on May 9
Moscow - Simferopol, April 30 (Navigator, Mikhail Stamm) - Kommersant's sources in the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed a long-standing rumor that on May 9, President Vladimir Putin may visit Sevastopol after the Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow.
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Officially, the Kremlin says that this visit is not yet on the president’s schedule. But information has unofficially appeared that Putin will take part in festive events dedicated not only to the anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, but also to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the city.
“An event with the participation of the president is on the agenda, the issue must be agreed upon with the Kremlin administration,” noted a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Defense. As a Kommersant source in the Kremlin clarified, the president will take part in the parade on Red Square in Moscow on the morning of May 9, “it is possible that after that he may fly over to the peninsula to participate in the festivities.” The administration of Sevastopol told Kommersant that there is no exact information about Mr. Putin’s arrival in the city yet, but they assured that “they will be able to meet him with dignity.” Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told Kommersant that a visit to Sevastopol on May 9 is not yet on Mr. Putin’s schedule.
The parade in Sevastopol is expected to be grand. For the first time, Tiger armored vehicles, Bastion anti-ship anti-aircraft missile systems, Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, and artillery guns will take part in it. In addition, the traditional participants in parades on Red Square - the Swifts and Russian Knights aerobatic teams - this year will perform not in Moscow, as planned, but in the skies over Sevastopol. Both groups flew from Kubinka to one of the airfields nearby the city, where they will perform several familiarization flights.
Let us note that from May 6 to May 11, the city will host for the first time a gathering of Russian cadet corps: they will take part not only in festive events, but will also hold a military sports game in the Grand Canyon of Crimea.
English version :: Read in English: On May 9, a grand parade with Putin's participation is expected in Sevastopol.