25 Ukrainian soldiers will take part in the parade in Paris
Ukrainian military personnel will take part in France’s main military parade, which will be held on July 14 in Paris to mark Bastille Day. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be present on the reviewing stand alongside them, and Ukrainian pilots will even take part in the aerial portion of the celebrations.
On July 14, Paris will host its traditional military parade to mark France’s National Day. This year, the participation of Ukrainian military personnel will be one of the event’s main highlights, according to sources at the Élysée Palace.
Ukraine will be represented by 25 military personnel. This is the maximum number the organizers have allocated for foreign partners. In total, representatives from several friendly nations have been invited to the international segment of the parade, but the Ukrainian delegation will be the largest.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also take part in the events. The Élysée Palace stated that he will be received according to standard diplomatic protocol, just like other heads of state and government. During the parade, he will be seated in the presidential box alongside French leaders and other official guests.
This year’s parade will be held under the theme “Europe’s Strategic Awakening.” French authorities emphasize that it was Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that served as a turning point for European security and forced countries to reassess their own defense capabilities. The Élysée Palace emphasized that the presence of Ukrainian military personnel is of particular significance. “It is clear that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine served as a wake-up call and contributed to this awakening. The presence of our Ukrainian partners shows that we stand in solidarity with them, that we are determined to support them in defending their sovereignty, territory, and freedom,” the source noted.
The international segment of the parade will be led by military personnel from the so-called Coalition of the Willing. A total of 503 service members from various countries will march in this segment. Ukrainian defenders will bring up the rear of this column, which will be one of the most memorable moments of the ceremony.
The Ukrainian flag will be represented not only on the ground but also in the sky. The French aerobatic team, Patrouille de France, will perform the parade’s ceremonial opening. Flying alongside them will be two Mirage 2000B fighter jets, which will be escorted by French crews.
What makes this special is that the co-pilots on these aircraft will be Ukrainian military pilots. It was in France that they underwent training on the Mirage fighters, which are already being used to bolster the Ukrainian Air Force. “These Mirage aircraft were used to train our Ukrainian partners,” explained the Office of the President of France. In addition to Ukraine, military personnel from Sweden, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, Romania, Austria, Germany, Australia, Canada, and Poland will participate in the international segment of the parade.
According to the Élysée Palace, this year’s parade will be one of the largest in recent years. Approximately 6,800 military personnel will take part, which is about 15% more than last year. The organizers also promise significantly more military equipment and aircraft—their number will increase by nearly a third.
France emphasizes that this year’s parade has not only ceremonial but also strategic significance. It is intended to demonstrate the readiness of the country and its allies to act together on issues of European security. “This parade should also be seen as a strategic signal — a message from France — about powerful armies capable of fighting, coordinating, and defending, as well as about a France that is today capable of rallying coalitions around itself, uniting them, and proposing solutions,” the Élysée Palace stated.
The traditional July 14 parade is held annually in Paris in honor of Bastille Day—France’s main national holiday. This year, the participation of Ukrainian military personnel will be one of the most visible symbols of support for Ukraine from the French government and its allies. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be present in the presidential box, sources at the Élysée Palace told Ukrinform.
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