Ceremonial regiments of the armed forces of the CSTO member states took part in the Victory Parade on Red Square

Today, in Moscow's Red Square, parade dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was attended by ceremonial regiments of the armed forces of the CSTO member states.

Officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers of military contingents from the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan marched through the main square of the Russian Federation in single formation with the Russian by ceremonial regiments. The sequence of their march was determined by alphabetical order.

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus were represented in a solemn march by servicemen of the Special Operations Forces. This elite branch of troops is one of the most equipped and dynamically developing. The military contingent of the Republic of Belarus was headed by Colonel Nikolai Smekhovich, Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.

The most dramatic and cruel events of the initial period of the war were played out on the Belarusian land. The defenders of the Brest Fortress performed an outstanding feat. Since June 22, 1941 the garrison courageously fought with the superior forces of the enemy. Separate groups of fighters continued resistance until July 20, 1941: “We will die, but we will not leave the fortress!”, “I die, but I do not surrender. Farewell, Motherland. 20.07.1941.”

In the history of the liberation wars there was no more massive partisan movement than the one that unfolded on the Belarusian land. Belarusian partisans and underground fighters destroyed more than 300 thousand soldiers and officers of the fascist army, more than 1300 tanks and armored vehicles.

The Republic of Kazakhstan was represented during the Parade by servicemen of the 37th Airborne Assault Brigade of the Airborne Assault Troops named after Hero of the Soviet Union Major General Ivan Panfilov.

The ceremonial regiment was led by Colonel Almas Tulegenov, commander of the 37th Airborne Assault Brigade, who was awarded the Order of Aibyn, second class, and the medal “Zhauyngerlik Yerligi Ushin” (“For Military Valor”). The unit is part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization's Collective Rapid Reaction Forces and is on permanent combat readiness.

In the territory of the Kazakh SSR during the Great Patriotic War 12 rifle and 4 cavalry divisions, 7 rifle brigades, about 50 separate regiments and battalions of various branches of the army were formed. Kazakhstani soldiers contributed to the Victory: they stormed Berlin, participated in hoisting the Victory Banner over the Reichstag, were among the combat formations that gave freedom to the peoples of Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia and Austria.

The ceremonial regiment of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic, headed by Guard Colonel Nurbek Duishenbaev, included members of the Honor Guard Company of the National Guard. The Guardsmen are distinguished by their professionalism, high combat skills and excellent drill.

During the Great Patriotic War on the territory of the Kyrgyz SSR, units of two rifle divisions, two separate rifle brigades, three cavalry divisions, and three aviation regiments were formed. More than 360 thousand people, i.e. every fourth able-bodied citizen of the Republic, were drafted into the active army.

The Republic of Tajikistan was represented during the parade by servicemen of the Airborne Assault Brigade of the Mobile Troops of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan. The ceremonial regiment was led by the brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Rustam Sharifzoda. The unit is part of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces.

In the period from 1941 to 1945, about 300 thousand people were sent to the front from the Tajik SSR. Tajik soldiers participated in the defense of Kiev, Smolensk, Odessa, Sevastopol and other cities of the Soviet Union. They helped to liberate besieged Leningrad, fought for Moscow and at the Kursk Bulge, and participated in the liberation of Belarus, the Baltic States and Poland from Nazi invaders.

Colonel General Andrei Serdyukov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, noted that the Victory had been achieved thanks to the unity, unbending steadfastness and heroic self-sacrifice of the peoples of our countries, who had made a decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazism. He also noted that the participation of ceremonial regiments of the armed forces of the CSTO member states in the Victory Parade on Red Square symbolized the unity of the Organization's member states and contributed to maintaining the spirit of combat brotherhood and the readiness of the forces and means of the collective security system to carry out their earmarked tasks.