Nizhny Novgorod veterans are invited to the Victory Parade on the podium with Putin.

      May 9, 2026 10:22 Society At the Victory Parade on Red Square, veterans of the Great Patriotic War traditionally attend alongside the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, TASS reports. Among these honored guests who will observe the parade from the central tribune are our fellow countrymen. The oldest participant of the parade is Kirill Semyonov, who turns 103 this year. He was born on May 22, 1923, in the city of Semyonov, Nizhny Novgorod region. In March 1942, he was drafted into the Red Army and sent to the evacuated Tallinn Military Infantry School. In mid-August 1942, Semyonov was sent to the Stalingrad front as part of the 86th separate machine-gun battalion of the 284th rifle division, which was part of the 62nd army. From October 1942, he served as a sergeant, commanding a machine-gun platoon. On December 12, 1942, at Mamaev Kurgan, Semyonov received a serious wound and was sent for treatment. He returned to the front in February 1945 as the commander of a mortar platoon in the 316th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 102nd Guards Rifle Division on the 2nd Belarusian Front. On March 18, 1945, he was wounded again in battles for the liberation of the Polish city of Gdynia. After a brief treatment, he returned to the front once more. Semyonov met Victory Day in Germany, participating in the liberation of Poland and Germany. For his feats, he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War I class, the Order of the Red Star, and medals for Combat Merit (twice), for the Defense of Stalingrad, for the Capture of Königsberg, for Victory over Germany, and other awards. To this day, Semyonov is one of the last warriors of the 62nd Army of Chuikov, which defended Stalingrad. Another honored guest on the tribune is Konstantin Fedotov, who celebrated his 100th birthday this year and released a new book. He was born on March 22, 1926, in the village of Boltino, Gorky region. In the autumn of 1943, he was mobilized. After training at the junior command personnel school in April 1944, he was sent to the 2nd Belarusian Front. Fedotov served in the reconnaissance company of the 139th division and participated in the liberation of Belarus and Poland. He reached the Elbe. Fedotov was also a participant in the historic Victory Parade of 1945. Among his awards are the Orders of the Red Star (twice), the Orders of Glory II and III classes, the Order of the Patriotic War I class, the Order of the Badge of Honor, the Order for Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR III class, the Medal for Combat Merit, the Medal for Officer Valor III class, and the commemorative Order of the Jubilee Georgievsky Cross. Let us remind you that front-line soldiers Vasily Kuritsyn and Vazgen Oganesyan have also been invited as honored guests to the Victory Parade on Red Square. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+