German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed her attendance on 30 April , as did Acting President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski . Komorowski 's attendance is said to be part of an effort to bolster Poland – Russia relations , which improved after the death of Polish President Lech Kaczyński in a plane crash near Smolensk in early April 2010 . Kaczyński is said to have confirmed his attendance at the parade shortly prior to the crash in which he was killed , with reports in the week prior to his death showing that he was questioning his attendance
plane crash near Smolensk
2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash
2010 Moscow Victory Day Parade