MOSCOW, May 9 (RIA Novosti) – More than 160,000 police officers and about 13,000 servicemen will be involved in maintaining security during nationwide Victory Day celebrations in Russia on Thursday, the Interior Ministry said.
Victory Day that Russia celebrates on May 9 marks the final defeat of Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union in World War II. This year, some 10 million people are expected to attend over 8,500 festive events, including 24 military parades, in more than 4,000 Russian cities and towns.
“Over 164,000 policemen and about 13,000 servicemen will be involved in maintaining order and public security during the festivities,” a ministry’s spokesman told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
“All police officers and interior troops will perform their duties in ‘high alert’ regime,” the official said.
More than 20,000 police officers and interior troops will be deployed to maintain security during the Victory Parade on Red Square and other festive events in the Russian capital, according to the Moscow police. All visitors will have to undergo security screening by metal detectors.
Almost 4,000 servicemen will be deployed in cities around Moscow, where some 143 large-scale public events are to take place.
The parade on Red Square, to be held on Thursday morning, is seen as a key episode of the Victory Day celebrations in Russia.
This year’s parade will involve over 11,000 servicemen and about 100 military vehicles, including Topol-M ballistic missile launchers, S-400 Triumf air defense systems, Pantsyr-S1 air defense systems, Iskander-M missile launchers, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, and T-90 main battle tanks.
A total of 68 combat aircraft will fly over Red Square, including Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters from the famous Russian Knights and Strizhi aerobatics teams.
Massive fireworks at 14 locations will culminate the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow at 10 pm.