(Mostly Drunk) Paratroopers’ Day

Second of August is a day dedicated to the infamous VDV (the Russian paratrooper units). The usual celebratory etiquette requires large gatherings of ex-paratroopers, with their distinguishable blue beret and striped shirts, in central parks, where they progressively get boisterously drunk and start jumping inside the fountains. Back in the day, it used to be more chaotic, with foreign embassies stating warnings to travelers and brawls being a common occurrence. Nowadays passing through metal detectors, alcohol monitoring and police presence, just to enter the park it seems things are under containment. True to the custom we do see drunk VDVs floating in the fountain, one anti-climaxing fight and a lot of yelling but surprisingly also a lot of families or girlfriends companions often dressed in the same fashion.

Batman unit?

Ice cream (morozhenoye) stop

ex paras in all ages and sizes

Burger refuel (cause it is cheap) / Note 1 foreign brand names are translated in Cyrilic

Aftermath

Entrance to Gorky Park with a huge banner dedicated to the VDV.

Metal detectors in the background

Girlfriends tagging along

Homemade Lemonade stop

Fountain dipping

Getting a little tipsy

Small misunderstanding, drunken fistfight, the guy on the left is checking his wallet?

VDV fashion for the whole family

Some guys overdid it with the drinking