Russian President Vladimir Putin presided over a scaled-back annual Victory Day parade in Moscow on Saturday after a ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump.
The traditional military parade marking the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II was held under heightened security after concerns over possible Ukrainian drone attacks.
A large security detail was protecting the president during his public appearance and mobile internet was shut down.
Soldiers and cadets marched past Putin, but the usual military parade featuring tanks, missiles, and other military equipment did not take place this time, due to the tense security situation.
The scaled-down parade was seen by observers as symbolic of the situation in the war, where Russian troops are under increasing pressure from Ukrainian forces, backed by huge Western military and financial support.
The Kremlin withdrew invitations to foreign journalists at short notice. Only a few foreign dignitaries were expected, including Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, the only EU leader present in Moscow, though he did not attend the parade itself.
In his speech before thousands of soldiers and guests, Putin expressed confidence that Moscow's military would win the war against Ukraine.
"I am firmly convinced: our cause is just, we stand united, victory has always been and will always be on our side," Putin said, his voice echoing across Red Square by the Kremlin.
The Russian army, in its current deployment in Ukraine, is inspired by the "generation of victors" from World War II, the president, a former Soviet KGB intelligence officer, said.
"They are standing up to an aggressive power that is armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc," said Putin, who ordered the full-scale invasion of Russia's neighbour in February 2022.
Despite Western support, "our heroes are marching forward," the president claimed.
There has been a prolonged stalemate along the frontline, with only minimal gains by either side in recent months.
Ukraine is receiving significant support from NATO states in its struggle against nominally much larger enemy forces.
The parties have agreed to a ceasefire until May 11, brokered by Trump.
However, the Russian Defence Ministry on Saturday accused Ukraine of violations, saying Ukrainian forces had targeted Russian military positions and civilian infrastructure with drones and artillery.
Russia's Kaluga, Tula, Smolensk, Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod regions had been affected, along with the Chechen Republic and the Stavropol and Krasnodar regions in southern Russia, the report said.
There was no initial confirmation of these attacks from the Ukrainian side.
The Ukrainian general staff reported 45 Russian attacks by early morning in contested regions in the eastern Donbass region.
The information from both sides could not be verified. Earlier ceasefires in the war have also been violated on a large scale.
Tense situation in Moscow
A large contingent of police and uniformed personnel were on duty in central Moscow for the parade.
Many passersby wore orange-and-black striped St George's ribbons - the Russian symbol for the Soviet Army’s victory over Nazi Germany - as clearly visible pins on their jackets and backpacks.
Some also displayed the letter "Z," which is used by supporters to express their support for the war against Ukraine.
Russia commemorates the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II on May 9 because the German Wehrmacht’s surrender in 1945 was signed late on May 8 in Berlin, when it was already past midnight in Moscow.
