Poland showcases its growing army on a holiday that celebrates its historic defeat of the Red Army
NATO member Poland is paying tribute to its historic victory over the Red Army by honoring fallen Poles and displaying its modern armed forces, which it hopes will deter the threat it sees in modern-day Russia
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — NATO member Poland paid tribute Thursday to its historic 1920 victory over the Red Army by honoring fallen Poles and showing off modern tanks and other equipment that it hopes will deter the threat it sees in modern-day Russia.
More than 2,500 Polish troops, joined by dozens of U.S. and other allied soldiers, rode in military vehicles or tanks, or flew in fighter jets and helicopters in Warsaw, the Polish capital, on the Armed Forces Day holiday.
“We must arm ourselves and build such potential that no one will ever dare to attack us,” President Andrzej Duda said before the parade, the culmination of state commemorations.
Some of Poland's new weapons have replaced Soviet- and Russian-made equipment sent to neighboring Ukraine after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its democratic neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022. Since Poland broke free of Moscow's control starting in 1989 and then joined NATO, it has worked to modernize its army.
