New eternal flame lit as Moscow prepares for Victory Day celebrations

Moscow is getting ready to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis. Today the second eternal flame has been lit in Victory Park – an open-air military museum not far from the city center.

A special escort brought a torch lit from the eternal flame located at the grave of the unnamed soldier outside the Kremlin wall to Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill, one of the focal venues during the festivities

The ceremony was attended by the mayor of Moscow along with war veterans.

Another flame is to be lit at the burial side of 10,000 Soviet soldiers who perished in the Second World War. It used to be the original site of the eternal flame back in 1956 before its move to the Kremlin walls.

In addition, it will be the first time Moscow will see foreign troops marching on Red Square as part of the annual military parade. There will be troops from the former ally nations of France, the US, Britain and Poland.

Also, drivers on the buses that run in the area of Victory Park will be wearing war uniforms. The vehicles themselves will be decorated with St. George ribbons, war awards, and pictures, reports news agency Itar-Tass.

There will be 160 military vehicles, including tanks. On May 4 and May 6 there will be a fly-by with 130 military helicopters and planes over Red Square – also in preparation for the parade.

On Victory Day itself, 60 celebratory parades will take place all over the country, in synch with the main one in Moscow, which underlines the significance of this day for Russia.