doubly correspondent in early show when is covering the commemoration for us at moscow's red square emily this is anniversary celebrations were meant to be a major showcase of power for president vladimir putin who is very invested in this day how did he approach scaled down commemorations. well let him hear putin essentially didn't mention the coronavirus at all in his speech today he did talk about the importance of this victory day for all russians he said that the commemorations are part of the russian people's soul and he also said that we will have a celebration we will have a parade at the moment it's not clear when that postponed parade will take place of course today is a very important day for russians. after all an estimated 26000000 soviet citizens were killed during world war 2 which is known as the great patriotic war here and for vladimir putin and for russia as well it has always been an opportunity to showcase its military power and its political power and bloodier putin had hoped of course that this year for the 75th anniversary that world leaders would attend the parade

and correspondent emily sure one is covering that commercial for us at moscow's red square emily of lattimer putin was just getting ready to speak or he began speaking rather you know this is a major anniversary of course 75 years russia had been gearing up for a major advance this year is victory day but now of course the country is confronted with the coronavirus crisis can russians still be in the celebrate tory mood. well i think it really is kind of a sad day for many russians and here in moscow the weather is just as gloomy this is a really important holiday for many people here in russia some might say even the most important holiday of the year after all an estimated $26000000.00 soviet people civilians and soldiers included or killed during world war 2 everyone every family has a story to tell people tell those stories to their kids their passed on through generations and of course the celebrations play an important part in how people mark this day usually in the center of moscow there would be huge crowds in the center waiting to see the tanks go by waiting for the military parade

correspondent emily sure one is covering the commemoration and she joins us now from moscow of red square hello to you emily so these celebrations in particular 75 years since the end of the 2nd world war they were intended to be really bombastic and kind of a boost to president vladimir putin we know he just made a short speech at the turn of the flame near the kremlin what was his message this year. well i think the interesting thing about putin's speech this year is that he didn't mention the coronavirus at all he did say however that victory day is part of russian people's souls and he promised that there would be victory day celebrations soon that they will happen now of course this day is really an emotional day for many people here for all to mated 26000000 soviet citizens were killed during world war 2 and it's also always been an opportunity for russia and vladimir putin as well as its president to demonstrate political power and military power as well without bombastic parade that you just mentioned and this year for the 75th anniversary of the celebrations putin had hopes that

past midnight in moscow the annual parade on red square in moscow has been canceled along with all events across russia did obvious moscow correspondent emily sherwin looks now at how russians are marking the end of what they call the great patriotic war. think i'm. a people's war a sacred before they sing for 70 years now students and alumni from the moscow state institute of music have gotten together on victory day to sing patriotic wartime songs to passers by outside the bolshoi theatre despite has always been an unofficial meeting place for victory day celebrations which play a key part in russia's national identity. one of the singers in the choir is heartbroken that this year the square will remain empty because of the pandemic the singing teacher has been coming here for victory day since she was a child she says the choir is tradition lets them be part of something bigger scene with a lot of people stop to same with us whether it's families or veterans who can still come to the square is not really makes us happy and we also asked people to join in everyone knows these songs as a musician i believe it's impossible to have good time

past midnight in moscow the annual parade on red square in moscow has been canceled along with all events across russia did obvious moscow correspondent emily sherwin looks now at how russians are marking the end of what they call the great patriotic war. you. think i'm. a people's war a sacred before they sing for 70 years now students and alumni from the moscow state institute of music have gotten together on victory day to sing patriotic wartime songs to passers by outside the bolshoi theatre despite has always been an unofficial meeting place for victory day celebrations which play a key part in russia's national identity. one of the singers in the choir is heartbroken that this year the square will remain empty because of the pandemic the singing teacher has been coming here for victory day since she was a child she says the choir is tradition lets them be part of something bigger scene with a lot of people stop to same with us whether it's families or veterans who can still come to the square that really makes us happy and we also asked people to join in everyone knows these songs as a musician i believe it's impossible to have good t