Ten thousand Russian soldiers marched through Moscow's Red Square to mark the 71st anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
Seventy-one aircraft flew over Moscow to mark the occasion, including Sukhoi jets that took part in Russia's military operation in Syria, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported. A Victory Day parade also took place on Russia's Khmeimim air base in Latakia, Syria, news website tvzvezda.ru reported. The parade included included army members of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Russia's newly-created Military Space forces and the National Guard participated in the parade for the first time this year. The country's female servicemen also debuted at the event. As is traditional, intercontinental ballistic missiles rolled through Moscow's main square, as well as 135 tanks and military vehicles.
President Vladimir Putin addressed the parade's participants and said that Russia is willing to join forces with other states to fight the global threat of terrorism. This year, Russia did not invite any foreign leaders to the parade, RIA Novosti reported.
The event was rehearsed three times in the last few weeks. RBC reported earlier that this year's parade was the least expensive in four years and cost 210 million rubles (over $3.23 million). Moscow also spent 90 million rubles ($1.3 million) to disperse the clouds over Moscow for the day, RIA Novosti reported.
The event was broadcast live on state television channels and 20 television screens placed across the Russian capital.
The Soviet Union lost more than 20 million people in World War II after the Nazi army invaded in June 1941.
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