Red Square came alive with the sounds of brass and drums as the 17th edition of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival opened, drawing participants from across the world.
Twenty-seven teams from ten countries are performing this year, including Ethiopia’s National Defence Force Marching Band, Zimbabwe’s Armed Forces Orchestra, and Burkina Faso’s Presidential Orchestra, which is making its debut appearance. Bands from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Italy, Republika Srpska, and the United Arab Emirates also joined the global line-up.
This year’s festival, taking place against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine, has been dedicated to the 80th anniversary of victory in what Moscow calls the Great Patriotic War known internationally as the Eastern Front of World War II, fought mainly between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.
The event continues to blend pageantry with politics, highlighting both military traditions and Russia’s narrative of wartime resilience.