Russia stages military parade to celebrate Victory Day

Moscow, May 9 (IANS/ITAR -TASS) Russia held a military parade Friday in Moscow marking the 69th anniversary of its victory against the German forces in World War II.

More than 11,000 soldiers and officers of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, military colleges, junior army and navy school cadets, took part in the traditional Victory Day parade at Moscow's Red Square.

The parade consisted of a march-past, a motorised display and the aerial exhibition.

The motorised display included 151 vehicles and units of technology and an aerial display was performed by 68 aircraft and helicopters.

President Vladimir Putin, who is also the commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces, attended the parade.

"It is a holiday when an overwhelming force of patriotism triumphs, when all of us feel particularly acutely what it means to be loyal to the Motherland and how important it is to defend its interests," Putin said.

Other than Moscow, parades will be held in eight other Russian cities -- Sevastopol, Kerch, St. Petersburg, Smolensk, Murmansk, Tula, Novorossiysk and Volgograd.

Victory Day is celebrated each year in Russia May 9 to mark the victory in 1945 over Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian term for World War II.