Russia held its annual Victory Day military parade in Moscow to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany during the Second World War. However, this year's parade was not like previous ones, as it was scaled down due to security reasons.
The parade began at around 10 am (07:00 GMT) in Red Square, with a military formation carrying the Russian flag.
The parade was held under tight security, and President Vladimir Putin also delivered a speech at the event.
"Victory has always been and will be ours”: Putin
The Russian president delivered a strong speech in front of the troops. He said that victory has always been and will always be theirs.
"The key to success is our moral strength, courage and valour, our unity and ability to endure anything and overcome any challenge," Putin added.
For the first time in the last 20 years, the Russian Victory Parade took place without tanks, missiles, and other heavy weapons, except for a traditional flyover of combat jets. Instead of the usual showcase of military equipment at Red Square, a 45-minute video was shown featuring military equipment deployed to Ukraine, according to reports.
Officials said the change in format was due to the current operational situation in the country, pointing to the threat of Ukrainian attacks. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, stated that additional security measures were also implemented.
United States President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, citing Russia's Victory Day parade. He also mentioned that during this period, both countries would exchange prisoners. Trump added that it could be the beginning of the end of the war.
Russia Warns Kyiv Over Parade Disruption
Earlier this week, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian authorities feared a drone could fly over Red Square on May 9. Following this, Trump issued a statement permitting Russia to hold its Victory Day parade on Saturday, stating that Red Square would be temporarily off-limits for Ukrainian strikes.
The Kremlin spokesperson dismissed Zelenskyy's statement as a "silly joke." Russian authorities warned that any attempt to disrupt the parade would lead to a massive strike on the center of Kyiv.
Putin addressed the parade, which included Russian military units and North Korean soldiers, invoking the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany to rally support for his army in Ukraine.
"The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today," Putin said.
"They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc. And despite this, our heroes move forward," he added.
"We celebrate it with feelings of pride and love for our country, with understanding of our shared duty to defend the interests and future of our Motherland," he further said.
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Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko were expected to attend the celebrations in Moscow. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was also expected to meet Putin and lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin, but he did not plan to attend the military parade at Red Square.