a day to remember russia commemorates 75 years since the defeat of the nazis but the pandemic right now means big plans of change would have been scaled back home. so no breaks on the ground but nonetheless the aerial tributes still take to the military flight path from the skies above moscow but it only. lasts the more coal regiment march which usually sees millions of russians turn out with portraits of their wartime relatives moves online still happening and later to

a flash mob will see the russian take their balconies and sing wartime songs just as we did here earlier with our friends from especially. the. globe. hello this is our team from moscow it's made the night to date indelibly etched in russian minds it's victory day and exactly 75 years ago nazi germany was defeated and the 2nd world war in europe was over this year's commemorations of course may be subdued in size and spectacle but nonetheless the emotion the pride the immense gratitude is still being felt nationwide as the country remembers the incalculable sacrifices made by soviet troops and civilians who suffered the wars biggest casualties. he'd. be.

given a way now. june 22nd 1941 and germany's surprise invasion of the u.s.s.r. started what will become known in russia as the great patriotic war. the nazis had a significant advantage in numbers and military equipment allowing troops to gain vast amounts of territory with little resistance in a matter of months they were of moscow's doorstep. but after a series of fierce battles and unforeseen resistance from the soviet people the germans were still unable to enter the city and were forced to retreat meanwhile the german sets are grounded the northern capital leningrad today some petersburg mounting a military blockade which would last for $872.00 days freezing temperatures and a desperate lack of food and water turned the city into a living hell. amid countless deaths starvation and suffering some comfort was to

be found from a sound heard across the city hundreds of loudspeakers and radios played the constant with macby to the metronome the leningrad heartbeat became a symbol of resistance. on the southern front the battle for sterling grad would become one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare. there are a soviet soldiers life expectancy was less than 24 hours and after 5 grueling months the hellish massacre ended with an estimated $2000000.00 casualties. but that hard earned victory for the soviet forces was a turning point of the war dealing a huge blow to nazi morale and proving they were not invincible by 944 the u.s.s.r. had cleared the enemy from all of its territories and started advancing on berlin.

as british and american forces created a 2nd front soviet troops were able to liberate others after the fall of berlin in may 1945 germany capitulated but the price paid was horrific more than 26000000 soviet people died in the great patriotic war more than half of them were civilians. may the 9th was declared victory day to commemorate the great sacrifice humanity paid for its freedom and a reminder of the horrors that war brings upon the lives of those who fight for their very existence. this is victory day celebrations were supposed to be the largest in recent memory but of course that's not now possible because of today's reality but nonetheless our correspondents in a patrol of were covering what was taking place and has taken place that has been made possible. i can tell you that this place never

looked like this on may 9th and watch his recent history red square is completely empty we do understand why but yeah it does feel absolutely special care well what if i put it this way may 9th is probably the most important holiday for russians for the people of this country for the former soviet republics on the cotton calendar yes of course there is an easter the rez the new year's eve but every time i explain to everyone why this is so important we do have to remember the price that this country paid for this more than 75 years ago we do have to remember that no other country lost so many people more than 25000000 perished people perished in this war this is indeed hard to believe that red square at this point is empty but like the russian president was saying this doesn't mean

that there won't be a fully fledged celebration perhaps at some point later this year. 2 congressional victories. somewhere below and for all of us. the biggest i think that maybe. the one we sell of christ and i saw him why and it's a national. museum of east spiritual value. stream an important should do in that we appreciate. that sometimes the russian people of russia really different nationalities and ethnic groups people of shoulder to shoulder and with from have. definitely my to write in red square. miles will read. the book and munching down. there in moscow st louis and the streets of russia whatever and search on that fought against death or

pure and we will be united as they are we are united is either cheered memory by our shared achievement and the spirit of responsibility. and the future. and we. are we strongly believe that we will prevail when we are together by happy victory die. we heard her raise from other russian service men i can tell you that on any other may 9th we know this whole ray would have been much louder because it would have come from the hundreds or even thousands of soldiers marching or actually being ready to march through red square and we also have to remember what the person

behind world war 2 was the plan was the plan was to destroy this country to store this city all together so you can think of a world without russia a wall without moscow but not only the soviet troops managed to defend their motherland they went all 'd the way to berlin to pretty much save the world and this is what happened here in the month after the heroes came back this kicked off the tradition there was a massive parade for the heroes and ever since then there were some pauses we saw troops marching here on red square on may 9th to celebrate this this is a very deep in the souls 'd of all the people and this country the coronavirus pandemic is taking its toll it was a big question for everyone whether the parade was going to happen and on april 16th president putin decided to can 'd to make sure that none of

this happens on this may 9th clearly because of all the dangers but let's just have a look at what the parade looked like exactly one year ago.

on this may 9th of course when everyone is in quarantine that doesn't mean that there is no room for some of the victory day tradition and once again at 7 pm there will be a minute of silence and russians have been encouraged to go to their balconies hold

the portraits of their relatives their loved ones who took part in the war or who somehow contributed to the victory and one of these traditional events. is of course the fireworks that usually happen in the evening they will indeed take place but people were told to stay at home and once again join the show from the balconies people. usually you see crowds all riled moscow because the fireworks are launched from different locations this is something that everyone from the youngest generation to the oldest generations are usually keen to watch aerial part of the parade that is the only section of this traditional event that we will witness. is in a location from where the view spectacular so i just want to ask maybe he could see

something or maybe he heard something any news about what's going on with this part of the show here they come as is tradition now headed by the the flying cow as they call it the me 26 aircraft flanked by me 8 aircraft at smaller brother i've been in that aircraft you can fit 70 odd people into that helicopter it's bigger than most restaurants an absolutely huge piece that is there's actually a video once of it's carried another helicopter slung slung below it just just behind the alligator's we should see that the night hunt has me 28 designated to work and in rule whether designated to the flight. at any time of the day as the name implies the the night hunter. there they are i can imagine see them

behind me what a what a spectacle. i didn't expect at least to do it in this in this terrible time to east russians can look out their windows self isolation and see these beautiful machines. move ahead that is the the final wave at the helicopters next we should see the heavy of boys the the aircraft. tonight is the a 50 you see a 50 year rushes i in the sky capable of seeing hundreds of kilometers in all directions when it's an airborne tracking threats up to 50 threats from from again hundreds of kilometers away organizing defenses organizing other jets to shoot troops by aircraft. behind it a trio of 76 transport aircraft these are the workhorses and i can tell you

from experience they were heavily used in in syria a juror in the operation you don't want to be anywhere near these when they take part. in huge forces they generated. you know that sweep clean off and to 95 bad you want the nasal pilots until you've been moved allies to intercept these off the coast of california for example a very old aircraft but a good barely recognizable from from blues released during the last century they've been modernized with all sorts of avionics and electronics again screaming hoover over moscow. and up next up next i would say my favorite aircraft the world's largest fastest and heaviest bomb but the 2160 whites was an absolutely beautiful aircraft surrounded by 2226 small smaller

siblings zul happening very quickly obviously these are jets that barely a 100 meters 150 to 300 meters above the city. do this see if you've got enough time to mention everything the next legs to the soup this is susie forsooth 30 and sue 30 five's. fighter aircraft and bombers together these would actually be. used in syria's operations against the hardest terrorists there. studying for it is absolutely stunning footage. after the x. rushes to the most famous arab batiks the flying me 20 times of su 30 in the diamond cuban guy live with me she says this is.

selling celebrating and congratulating russians. with the 9th of may and capping the parade. a formation that suit 25 rounders that their great aircraft streaking across moscow and things in the sky in the russian try to land in the flag of the russian federation. and that's it ladies and gentlemen at least at least we got our air show. yeah we did great to see it to every veteran as a gripping story to tell of course and we wanted to put you directly in touch with those war heroes we've contacted as many as we could try with our victory e-mail project and ask you to write in with your messages to thank some of the mirror from to me i'll take a 30 minute here are some more heartfelt letters of appreciation and most of them have already been sent to the veterans some got stuck here at our route because of the situations running coronavirus person is it clears up a bit i can assure you we will be sending them on but i want to show you them

anyway this go through few the letters we received came from different corners of the world where are you. of the world they came from italy that was from a stray and of course russia as well take a look at these close up these are got the same george ribbon on. and also one with the russian trickle around as well with such love put together so beautifully and these are coming from an orphanage a candle at the work that's gone into that. these are in from russia to be sent on to the veterans now there's another one this is coming from china can you see that just about yet this particular envelope is for zoya roman nko who survived the seas siege of leningrad and this is his story. yup occurred here and so even apart rich want people to be america's healers who include a mobile portion yes you know which you all call you wish you only fish go for the settlement of the bull who.

was most well known as the one who would hear your spirit in the issue of the look . she would just be able to. talk to a future. yes is very puzzling question why can't this calm ok you know you did you eat you to be warm but you do here you are you here i have was her lawyer the bishop does not work in her. writing a post to put you very bravely above she would be a russian it was a by do you try to say you know what yes to him orders to the stone not to do you know which i know with you my life that with that will open always in my.

mind enough of the truth seeker lady. specially to me or her future will hit you will scare of life or you will tell sure. croft close close close close to stay out where you see all the around you. and that is the british security or the small of the gulf coast because we're all. a relatively new tradition each year on victory day sees hundreds of thousands of russians march with portraits of their relatives who fought in the war it's called the immortal regiment and since 2012 it's seen marches not only nationwide but also far beyond russia's borders to course this year the pandemics put a stop to major public gatherings but where there's a will there's

a way as daniel hawkins told me a bit earlier. well moscow surprisingly empty this month of my abouts on surprisingly given the circumstances you'd expect normally crowds of people to be attending the parade on red square and obviously the immortal regiment something which has become much edition and only russia but across the well that started back in 2012 in a small siberian city of thomson it's ballooned to now include over 110 countries 500 different cities and millions of people not only in russia but also tens of thousands across the wild as well and of course while you can call home the but chill military parade you can hold a virtual remembrance ceremony that's exactly what has happened over 2000000 people have submitted photos and stories over there but it is of the anzus those. who fought many of whom died in the 2nd molde war the great patriotic war is known here in russia and that ceremony will be broadcast on social media and also on

television throughout the day that those stories those photos sweeping from eastern russia away from but of course the far east all the way to kaliningrad the west the most point of russia and it's going to take hours i can tell you to do probably the best part of the day now because they just have been so so many submissions this means so much to so many people there's not one family in russia and that was the fact that they didn't lose someone during the war and this tradition has become over the last 8 years really something to mark to on out of sight of right those who sacrificed so much and at 7 pm today here in moscow russians are encouraged to open their windows go to the balconies hold up the portraits so old their ancestors who gave those sacrifices and to sing to sing the victory day song which perhaps encompasses everything that they stay means the most important festival here in russia the suffering the sacrifice and

a celebration of the great patriotic war and music and song is of course just. one of the ways people remember those those days those sacrifices and has managed to break down borders across thousands of miles even as far as australia and mainly one small child would have been web. $28.00 man choir he will find happen to be fans of russian music called military songs of the russian army songs have got together and transcended so many miles across the borders and have become somewhat of a hit not only domestically but also a that ashley and here in russia this is the choir and some of the creative music they have produced paula time to. salt to issue the post of the new boy. oh.

oh. oh oh nice to me is part of the. russians obviously very very tough language even tougher to sing in but these are guys from a straight old managed to record individually that russian war song and we put together that montage on autopsy and of course they were also invited suit perform at the big treat a celebration this year all right square that has happened for all these reasons but they invite still stands and should that event go ahead or rather when it goes ahead that is the question they said they're very happy to come to last go and visit sound that i decided to have it will dish in with them as well to see if i can make the cut and that perhaps join him back signal polish conky going up. so they should be flows of it need a little hollow to hold. a news

release for the v.j. to go. home. all of the car load of nervously needed harlow who. was on active follow those guys are pretty good but i hope i managed to make the addition and maybe we'll level sitting together when they do come to moscow and that they've also said that they were really surprised that overwhelmed but how much their songs of but people not only in the ex-pat community in australia where they have become a staple a huge hit but also messages from russia from all those miles away this is what they have to say. celebrating the end of holy war is a marvelous thing and to remember the suffering that was always involved and that song seems to really speak just as a song as much as what it is really saying in

a moving place and i think music particularly in the exchange of cultures is art it's uplifting and it brings hope we've also had a lot of private messages story which i spoke of trump a poll. in russia who said things like i cried and. you know i used to sing this song with my grandparents at family gatherings. people have been very very kind to us loathe a certain item a celebration is perhaps the 1st thing in recent times some for some generations in living memory when a parade has taken place when the streets are lined with people celebrating that hasn't stopped people marking this very important day for russia in their own way through that online immortal regiment through the medium of song also about these and windows that's going to be quite a sight quite a sound a bit later that night and suddenly it's

a question of when rather than if people will be able to go out and mark. this very important holiday very important date albeit a little late you know through the adversity there will be better times ahead well so victory day 75 shaping up so far this may the 9th muted celebrations in many ways this year but also reflections on what the day signifies still very much in people's minds across russia and beyond next we follow the russian volunteers who found and recovered the remains of some 120000 missing 2nd world war soldiers on land and it's see the program coming up after this short break is called finding the fall in. so what we've got to do is identify the threats that we have it's crazy. let it be

an arms race. and spearing dramatic development only personally i'm going to resist i don't see how that strategy will be successful very critical time time to sit down and talk. all that sugar has created excess body for the majority of people worldwide and that impairs immunity and therefore makes us more wrongful to infection and during this period when we're more isolated in our all. we. want to eat more sugar that's really the worst thing people do to janet's coming in is clearly is is just very clear that it's those the. symptoms of other facts of the communities and it's those individuals that are coming into the

hospitals it's those individuals that are suddenly leaving. and it's ultimately because they missed all of this regulation it was clear there were medical health. you can see the 1st place in us united we. find unity of days ago i was the impetus was losing the voice against the roof.

camp a taste you're straining feeling i mean to be a small but i'm sure many. minds it doesn't leave me start to add to cause or at least to me for good can each speech by the newman post was going to. folks that was this what the age of choice news hellmouth. fox was used in courts and usenet. groups that are. by now that i hold that youth well want to end it almost 75 years ago but thousands

went missing in action lost in the woods and in swamps their families never knew what happened to them many are still waiting for loved ones to return from the war and a dedicated few a still taking lost soldiers home. this. was one of the but. is just a post in your spew. is just part of where he. has searched for lost soldiers for more than 30 years he started on his own but then began to involve school students now his organization is one of the largest in russia did a little what he did is that it's a bit of expensive get a little. don't leave the woods at the mall.