Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe with a speech warning that Nazi beliefs remain strong.
Speaking to the annual military parade on Moscow's Red Square, Putin on Sunday decried “attempts to rewrite history, to justify traitors and criminals, on whose hands lies the blood of hundreds of thousands of peaceful people.”
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Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe with a speech warning that Nazi beliefs remain strong.
The parade, whose format varies little from year to year, included more than 190 military vehicles traversing the square, ranging from the renowned WWII-era T-34 tank to the hulking eight-axle Yars mobile ICBM launchers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
In this photo taken with long time exposure, Russian soldiers march toward Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, second from right, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon, right, shake hands with WWII veterans before the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to his soldiers as he is driven along Red Square in the Aurus Senat car during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (AP Photo)
Russian RS-24 Yars ballistic missile rolls in Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon, center left, watch the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon walk before the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
“Unfortunately, many of the ideologies of the Nazis, those who were obsessed with the delusional theory of their exclusiveness, are again trying to be put into service,” he said, without citing specifics.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The parade, whose format varies little from year to year, included more than 190 military vehicles traversing the square, ranging from the renowned WWII-era T-34 tank to the hulking eight-axle Yars mobile ICBM launchers.
The anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat, which Russia calls Victory Day, is the country's most significant secular holiday. commemorating the Red Army's military feats and the vast suffering of civilians. About 27 million Soviet soldiers and civilians are estimated to have died in the war.
In this photo taken with long time exposure, Russian paratroopers march toward Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
In this photo taken with long time exposure, Russian soldiers march toward Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, second from right, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon, right, shake hands with WWII veterans before the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to his soldiers as he is driven along Red Square in the Aurus Senat car during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (AP Photo)
Russian RS-24 Yars ballistic missile rolls in Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (AP Photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon, center left, watch the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon walk before the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 9, 2021, marking the 76th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)