A tank rolls through Red Square as part of Russia's Victory Day celebrations. Credit: AP
Russian president Vladimir Putin used the backgroundry-day-speech-to-blame-west-for-moscows-invasion-of-ukraine of the military pomp of Russia's Victory Day to once again justify his invasion of Ukraine, but did not, as Western leaders feared, declare full-scale war.
The symbolic day marks the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War in 1945.
The day is marked by a large military parade in Moscow's Red Square, with Putin and other Russian officials traditionally standing on the tomb of former premier of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, to watch.
Tanks in Red Square as part of Victory Day. Credit: APRussian servicemen march through Red Square. Credit: APPeople climb on a statue to watch the Victory Day military parade at the Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square in St. Petersburg. Credit: APRussian servicewomen salute as they march. Credit: APTroops in Red Square to mark the defeat of the Nazis in the second world war. Credit: APRussian president Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the military parade. Credit: APNavy school cadets march during the Victory Day military parade at the Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square in St. Petersburg. Credit: APPutin making his speech marking Victory Day. Western leaders feared the Russian president would use it to declare all-out war in Ukraine. Credit: APPeople carry portraits of relatives who fought in the Second World War, during the Immortal Regiment march in St. Petersburg. Credit: APRussian servicemen take part in the parade in Moscow in front of president, Vladimir Putin. Credit: APRussian defence minister Sergei Shoigu is driven along Red Square in the Aurus Senat car during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Credit: APRussian Army orchestra march after the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Credit: AP
