A rehearsal for the Victory Day Parade on May 9 was held on Palace Square in St. Petersburg. This year, Russia celebrates a historic date: 80 years since Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War. The rehearsal featured a variety of military equipment, covering a wide range - from historical models from the war to modern systems. Foot columns representing military personnel marched through the square with flags flying. On January 17, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared 2025 the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland in Russia in order to preserve historical memory.