Russia marks Victory Day with massive parade

MOSCOW (AP) -- Tens of thousands of granite-faced soldiers marched in lockstep across Red
Square Monday in Russia's annual Victory Day display of military might, while President Dmitry
Medvedev said the country is committed to peace and global stability.
The parade, marking the surrender of Nazi Germany in World War II, is the centerpiece of Russia's
most solemn secular holiday, both commemorating the Soviet Union's enormous sacrifices in the
war and asserting the
potency of its modern military. (35 images)

People lay flowers at the WWII memorial during the Victory Day celebration marking the 66th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, on Monday, Murmansk 1,450 km (906 miles) north of Moscow, May 9, 2011. Andrei Pronin / AP

An elderly woman lays flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during Victory Day celebrations in central Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Victory Day is modern Russia's most important secular holiday, which always sees elaborate observances throughout the country. Sergey Ponomarev / AP

Knostantin Pronin, 86, World War II veteran from Belarus sits on a bench as he waits in a hope to find other men from his unit at Gorky park during Victory Day in Moscow, Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr / AP

World War II veterans ride in a trailer in downtown St.Petersburg, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011, marking Victory Day celebrations. Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

A WWII veteran and people wearing Soviet military WWII style uniforms are reflected in the folded down windshield as they ride in a military car in downtown St.Petersburg, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

People wearing Soviet military WWII style uniforms march in downtown St.Petersburg, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011, marking Victory Day celebrations. Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

A woman, wearing a Red army uniform, and a World War II veteran dance as they mark Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Misha Japaridze / AP

Ivan Semetkin, 95, Russian veteran WWII walks through the Red Square after the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP

Muscovites, wearing a Red army uniform, and World War II veterans dance as they mark Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Misha Japaridze / AP

A woman kisses WWII veteran Yuri Smirnov, 85, in downtown Moscow on Monday, May 9, 2011. The parade, marking the surrender of Nazi Germany in World War II, is the centerpiece of Russia's most solemn secular holiday, both commemorating the Soviet Union's enormous sacrifices in the war and asserting the potency of its modern military. Sergey Savostyanov / AP

Russian World War II veteran Victor Shepelyov, 84, dances as he celebrates Victory Day of the 66th anniversary of the allied victory over Nazi Germany at Gorky park in Moscow, Monday, May 9, 2011. Mikhail Metzel / AP

Russian World War II veterans Victor Shepelyov, 84, and Yevgeny Ermolayev, 83, celebrate Victory Day at Gorky park in Moscow, Monday, May 9, 2011. Mikhail Metzel / AP

WWII veterans watch the Victory Day military parade at the Red Square in Moscow. Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Mikhail Kalashnikov, famous AK-47 automatic rifle designer, right, speaks during the Victory Day military parade at the Red Square in Moscow. Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russian veterans of WWII stand on the Red Square after the Victory Day Parade on Monday. The day commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP

A Russian WWII veteran salutes as he is escorted during the Victory Day military parade at Moscow's Red Square, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russian World War II veterans are seen on a giant screen watching as marines march along the Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russian marines march along Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russian marines march along Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russian paratroopers march during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP

Russian marines march during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, background, second right, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, background center, State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov, background left, and upper house speaker Sergei Mironov, background, second left, attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier on the eve of Victory Day celebration in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 8, 2011. Misha Japaridze / AP

A Russian soldier yawns amongst troops waiting to march during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP

Russian soldiers march along the Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russian tanks T-90 drive through the Red Square during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011, with a display depicting the Order of the Victory in the background. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP

Russian military vehicles drive through the Red Square during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2011. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP

Russian howitzers roll down the Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011, with the history museum in the background. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP

Russian APC rolls off the Red Square during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade which will take place at Moscow's Red Square on May 9, in downtown Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 7, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

A Russian Army Topol intercontinental ballistic missile rolls onto Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, center, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, center right, and World War II veterans listen to the national anthem during the Victory Day military parade at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev toasts with World War II veterans as he attends the Central Armed Forces Museum on the eve of Victory Day in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 8, 2011. Dmitry Astakhov / AP

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attends a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier on the eve of Victory Day in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 8, 2011. Dmitry Astakhov / AP

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, center, followed by Russian Prime Minister Vladamir Putin, attends a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier on the eve of Victory Day celebration in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 8, 2011. Misha Japaridze / AP

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev puts flowers at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier to mark the upcoming Victory Day celebration in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 8, 2011. Misha Japaridze / AP

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin lays wreath at the Eternal Flame while visiting the Battle of Stalingrad memorial, ahead of May 9 Victory Day, in Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, about 900 kilometers (550 miles) southeast of Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 6, 2011. Alexei Nikolsky / AP