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Photos: Russia’s World War Two parade mixes aging warriors and shiny new weapons

Military muscle.
Military muscle.
Image: Reuters/Grigory Dukor
By
Hanna Kozlowska
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The Russians go all out when celebrating the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during World War Two. For the Kremlin, it’s an occasion to tout the country’s triumphant past and flex today’s military muscle. This year’s 71st anniversary parade, held on May 9 in Moscow’s Red Square, included 10,000 servicemen and women, 135 military vehicles and 71 aircraft.

As bombers and fighters zoomed through the air, massive missile launchers drove through Moscow. Some of the aircraft and missile defense system models had been used recently on the ground in Syria. Many veterans who are nearing their hundredth birthdays joined the parade: more than 20 million Soviet soldiers and civilians died in World War Two.

A World War Two veteran.
A World War Two veteran.
Image: Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin
Image for article titled Photos: Russia’s World War Two parade mixes aging warriors and shiny new weapons
Image: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Image for article titled Photos: Russia’s World War Two parade mixes aging warriors and shiny new weapons
Image: AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin
The current generation.
The current generation.
Image: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Image for article titled Photos: Russia’s World War Two parade mixes aging warriors and shiny new weapons
Image: AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin
Russian S-400 air defense missile systems.
Russian S-400 air defense missile systems.
Image: AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin
Iskander-M missile launchers at rehearsal before the parade.
Iskander-M missile launchers at rehearsal before the parade.
Image: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Image for article titled Photos: Russia’s World War Two parade mixes aging warriors and shiny new weapons
Image: Reuters/Grigory Dukor
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech.
Image: Reuters/Grigory Dukor
Veteran Antonina Korolyova, 94.
Veteran Antonina Korolyova, 94.
Image: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Rehearsal.
Rehearsal.
Image: Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin
Veteran Dmitry Fillipov, 90.
Veteran Dmitry Fillipov, 90.
Image: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
People hold pictures of World War Two soldiers as they take part in the Immortal Regiment march.
People hold pictures of World War Two soldiers as they take part in the Immortal Regiment march.
Image: Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin
Zemlianichenko)
Zemlianichenko)
Image: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Rehearsal the night before.
Rehearsal the night before.
Image: Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin
Military vehicles preparing to descend on the Red Square.
Military vehicles preparing to descend on the Red Square.
Image: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov