Russians Celebrate Paratrooper Day

On August 2, people across Russia celebrate their paratroopers: current and ex servicemen don their trademark striped vests and blue berets and head to town parks and squares to celebrate – often with alcohol-fuelled macho competitions.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexey Danichev

On August 2, people across Russia celebrate their paratroopers: current and ex servicemen don their trademark striped vests and blue berets and head to town parks and squares to celebrate – often with alcohol-fuelled macho competitions. In St. Petersburg a man celebrating paratrooper day and an LGBT activist on a one-man protest were detained by police after a scuffle broke out between them when the activist tried to unfurl a rainbow flag, local media reported.

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© RIA Novosti . Maxim Blinov

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In Moscow, the Soviet-built exhibition pavilion at VDNKh and Gorky Park are among the main focal points for paratrooper day celebrations – men in striped vests frolicked in fountains, waved flags and ate watermelons.

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© RIA Novosti . Mikhail Voskresenski

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Ex-paratroopers remembered their time on active service.

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© RIA Novosti . Pavel Lisitsyn

Some in Yekaterinburg headed to Soviet Army square complete with parachute, just in case.

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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovich

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In addition to the more worldly celebrations taking place in fountains and parks across the capital, Moscow also saw a Christian procession through the city to mark the day.

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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovich

The Russian Orthodox Church and Russia’s Paratroopers also paid their respects to Prophet Elijah. Prophet Elijah is referred to as a healer and miracle-worker in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and is regarded by Russia’s Paratroopers as their protector.

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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovitch

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Veterans, serving paratroopers, and cadets took part in celebrations on Moscow’s Red Square.

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© RIA Novosti . Pavel Lisitsyn

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Many people brought their children along.

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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovich

The Christian procession through Moscow, in honor of Prophet Elijah, started from the Elijah the Prophet cathedral and ended on Red Square.

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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovich

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Paratroopers on Red Square celebrating the 83-rd anniversary of the creation of dedicated paratroopers’ units within the country’s Armed Forces.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexei Malgavko

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised veterans and serving paratroopers for their outstanding professionalism, skill, sense of duty and loyalty.

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© RIA Novosti . Mikhail Voskresenski

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Moscow’s Gorky Park remains a favorite spot for partying paratroopers.

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© RIA Novosti . Iakov Andreev

Celebrating paratrooper day in Tomsk. The local authorities drained the fountains, reportedly for technical reasons, but that did not put a dampener on proceedings – the men headed to the river.

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© RIA Novosti . Alexei Danichev

Celebrations in St. Petersburg included a veterans’ parade and the laying of flowers, and a concert.

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© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovich

Celebrating Paratrooper Day.