In pictures: Russia's victory day parade

Images from Russia's Victory Day parade which marks the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. World War Two cost more than 20 million Soviet lives.

Parades are taking place in 28 Russian cities including the capital Moscow, involving 65,000 people, 2,400 items of military hardware and more than 400 aircraft

Here the commanders of BMD-4 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles salute

During his speech Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian troops in eastern Ukraine are "defending the motherland". Following the parade he laid flowers at the Memorial to Hero Cities at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall

Mr Putin also met veterans of former conflicts

Putin's speech did not contain any major announcements about the conflict in Ukraine

An air display by the Russian airforce had to be cancelled. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, blamed it on the weather conditions

Snipers were seen looking down on the parade in Red Square

The parade include a wide range of Russian weaponry including these Buk-M3 missile systems

Members of the Youth Army movement were also in Moscow

While Russian servicewomen paraded in St Petersburg

A Russian serviceman relaxes with his girlfriend following the parade

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