Pacific Fleet celebrated Victory Day

10.05.2011 Military units, bases, and camps of Pacific Fleet (PF) celebrated the Victory Day. PF mariners of the northeastern force conducted festive activities first. Parade of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski garrison took place there.

Holiday activities started in Vladivostok on May 9 at 9 am with hoisting of St. Andrew's flags and masthead dressing flags. At the same time, solemn hoisting ceremony of national and St. Andrew's flags was held in front of Pacific Fleet HQ.

The Victory Day parade started at the Korabelnaya Embankment at 10 am; it was opened by acting PF Commander Rear Admiral Sergei Avakiants.

Troops of Vladivostok garrison marched in review after formal check and kneeling ritual. Over 1,000 men including parade companies of Pacific Fleet HQ, surface ship divisions, historical companies of soldiers, sailors, and aviators dressed in WW2 uniform, cadets of naval colleges, companies of EMERCOM and internal troops paraded at the Korabelnaya Embankment.

Combat vehicles also marched after parade companies. There were mobile SAM systems Osa, armored personnel carriers, artillery systems, etc. Total number was about 30 vehicles.

When the parade was finished, veterans of the Great Patriotic War were entertained with "naval cereal" and "battle shots" of vodka in the admiral park behind Vladivostok Naval Officers' Club.

In May 7-8 naval servicemen laid wreaths to monuments, memorials, and military cemeteries at PF units and bases.

A solemn wreath-laying ceremony took place at the memorial "Pacific Fleet's Battle Glory" in Vladivostok on May 8 with participation of PF command, city officials, and honor guards.

At 10 pm the festive events finished with fireworks.