Massive crowds took to the streets in Moscow with portraits of their relatives who fought and defeated the Nazis during WWII. It is a Victory Day tradition in Russia, where the war left almost no family untouched.
Countless people, some of them sporting replicas of Soviet military uniforms, walked together through the capital’s main street and entered the iconic Red Square where the Victory parade concluded a few hours earlier.
They carried old photographs of their relatives, who participated in WWII, many waving flags of Russia and the USSR. That said, US and British banners also flew high in Moscow, with people paying tribute to the Western allies in the battle against the Nazis.
President Vladimir Putin joined the rally, holding a portrait of his father who volunteered to join the military and was severely wounded while fighting to lift the German blockade of Leningrad.
Even the heavy rain and hail, which hit Moscow later in the day, wasn’t enough to make people disperse. Many knew the weather forecast and had umbrellas and raincoats at the ready.
Launched in 2011, the Immortal Regiment tradition continues to grow in strength and has gained popularity internationally. More than 10 million people took to the streets in Russia on May 9, 2018, setting an all-time record.
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