The FSB, GUGI and a host of teenage warriors were marching in this year's Victory Day parade in Murmansk

The parade that marked the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory in the Second World War had the pomp of previous victory day parades. 

But this year's show had a few particularities.

Several new units participated. Among them were troops from the 29th Submarine Division, the force that is part of Russia'a Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI).

The notorious division known for capability to carry out underwater sabotage operations were represented by 54 men under the lead of 2nd Rang Captain Oleg Kurochkin. 

GUGI is a structure within the Defence Ministry and separate from the Navy. From its base in Olenya Bay, it operates the 29th Submarine Division.

In the parade were also a significant number of men from the Federal Security Service. Both the FSB Coast Guard and the FSB Border Guard service were represented.

Neither the FSB, nor GUGI, were part of the parades in 2024 and 2023. This year, they marched ahead of the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade and the 80th Motorised Rifle Brigade, two units that traditionally have dominated the parades.

There were also a big number of militariteenagers marching. Three units of Yunarmiya, the youth army of the Ministry of Defence, were represented along with units from militarised youth organisations VOIN, DOSAAF and Vympel.

In 2023 and 2024, only Vympel and one unit from Yunarmiya took part.

As church bells from a mobile installation were ringing in an attempt to give the event a touch of sanctity, head commander of the Northern Fleet Konstantin Kabantsov entered the VIP stage to deliver a speech. Like in his last year’s Victory Day address, he argued that today's war against Ukraine is a continuation of the 2WW.

"Today, like 80 years ago, Russia is again fighting for its future against followers of Nazism. Servicemen of the Northern Fleet, the 14th Army Corps, with honour fulfil their military duties in the zone of the special military operation. They continue the cause of the victorious generation and sacredly uphold traditions," Kabantsov said. 

According to the vice-admiral, more than 14000 Russian servicemen have gotten state awards for their fighting in Ukraine, and 20 soldiers from the Northern Fleet have been awarded the title 'hero of Russia.’

Losses among the regional brigades have been massive. The 61st Naval Infantry Brigade, the 80th Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade are believed to have lost thousands of men.

The military hardware on display in this year’s parade in Murmansk included mostly the same weapons as previous years. But also here there were new features.

In the parade were 51 units, among them the two-track snowmobiler GAZ-3344-20, armored personell carrier BTR 82A, tanks T80BMV and trucks Kamaz 6350 370. 

There were four units of coastal missile system K-300P Bastion-P, along with two units of Bal system.

Two units of the coastal defense radar system Monolit BR were on display along with two units of the Krasukha S4 mobile electronic warfare system and two R-416GM radio communication stations.

In the show were two RKhM-6 Povozka chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance vehicles, as well as smoke machines TDA-3, maintenance vehicles MTO-UB2 and technical assistance vehicle MTP-A2.

This year, unlike the last two years, were on display also two TMM-3M bridge-laying vehicles.

New this year was also the drone protection cover installed on several of the vehicles, including the tanks and the trucks.

The parade also included new ATVs, among them the Desertcross 1000-3, and two UAZ pickups with mounted guns.