MOSCOW, May 9 (UPI) -- Thousands of Russian troops marched across Moscow's Red Square Saturday in the military parade marking the 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany.
Under the watchful eye of President Vladimir Putin and about 30 foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, some 16,000 soldiers, 200 armored vehicles and 150 jets and helicopters took to Red Square as hundreds of thousands of onlookers carried photographs of relatives who took part in the war. This is expected to be the last major anniversary when a large number of aging World War II veterans are still alive.
Putin paid tribute to those who died in the conflict and Nazi concentration camps with a moment of silence. He said the veterans at the celebration were the "main heroes" of the memorial.
"Today your children or grandchildren are grateful to you for this victory, working for the future of the country," he said.
#ImmortalRegiment marches on: World remembers WW2 heroes (PHOTOS, VIDEO) http://t.co/2tSttIQg7H #Victory70 pic.twitter.com/wCmpDCwFhx
— RT (@RT_com) May 9, 2015The event featured some of Moscow's historic pieces of armory and the newest military hardware, including BMD 4M and Rakushka armored vehicles. Soldiers from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India, Mongolia, Serbia and China marched alongside their Russian counterparts.
Moscow invited nearly 70 heads of state, including President Barack Obama, many of whom boycotted the parade because of Russia's alleged involvement in the Ukraine conflict. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was also expected to attend, but canceled about 10 days ago, stating "domestic affairs" would keep him home. Early Saturday, North Korea announced it test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine.
The Victory Day parade marks the day in 1945 when Nazi Germany surrendered to the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Official data indicates 27 million Soviet citizens, including civilians and service members, died in the war from 1941-1945. Friday, the United States commemorated V-E Day with a flyover event in Washington, D.C.
250,000+ carry photos of family killed in WW2 through Moscow - LIVE STREAM http://t.co/sjoH4gtZKo #ImmortalRegiment pic.twitter.com/5XoDX9OLIv
— RT (@RT_com) May 9, 2015
