A year ago, with Russia under strict coronavirus restrictions, the country opted for a slimmed-down version of the parade and encouraged people to stay home. But this year, even with infections rising — Moscow has reported more than 2,700 new cases three days in a row — people lined the parade route downtown to catch sight of the green tanks rolling by. A recent survey by state-run pollster VTsIOM showed that 69 percent of Russians view Victory Day as the most important holiday on the calendar.

Source: Washington Post May 09, 2021 18:18 UTC