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 The grand parade, an annual fixture commemorating the Soviet
Union's victory over the Nazis in World War Two, took place in
bright sunshine as President Vladimir Putin looked on from a tribune
filled with Soviet war veterans, some of whom wore rows of campaign
medals and clutched red roses.
The Russian leader, whose forces annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014
and are now helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army, watched
as thousands of troops marched across the cobbled square to the
strains of martial music.
The authorities, backed by state media, use the event to encourage
patriotism, reinforce national identity, for geopolitical point
scoring, and to underscore the importance of having a strong
military to protect the country's borders.
"It (the commemoration) has become a symbol of sacred closeness
between Russia and its people," Putin told the parade. "And in such
unity and loyalty to the motherland lies our strength, our
confidence, and our dignity."
The Kremlin also now uses the event to show how a multi-billion
dollar modernization program is changing the face of the Russian
military with new weapons and hardware.
 Some politicians in former Soviet republics or satellite states
regard the parade as crude sabre-rattling by a resurgent Russia they
say poses a threat to Europe's security. Russia dismisses such
allegations as nonsense.
SYRIAN HARDWARE
Columns of tanks followed the troops as did the advanced S-400 air
defense missile system, which is deployed in Syria to protect the
Russian air base there. Russia's latest Yars mobile intercontinental
nuclear missile launcher was also on show.
Scores of military aircraft flew over Red Square, including jets
which emitted multi-colored smoke to trace the red, blue and white
colors of the Russian flag in the sky.
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Putin, in his speech, largely confined his remarks to the importance
of the wartime victory. But he also spoke of the need to fight
global terrorism and to cooperate with other nations to do that.
"Terrorism has become a global threat," said Putin. "We must defeat
this evil. And Russia is open to uniting efforts with other
governments, is ready to work on the creation of a modern non-bloc
system of international security."
State media criticized governments in Ukraine and Poland in the
run-up to the parade for systematically dismantling wartime
monuments in honor of Soviet forces, accusing them of dishonoring
the troops who liberated them from the Nazis.
Ruling politicians in both countries disagree, saying Soviet troops
were occupiers. The monuments are being pulled down as part of a
de-communisation drive, they say.
Vladimir Norosov, 90, a Soviet veteran in Moscow for the parade,
said he was angered by such remarks.
"We fought together, myself and my Polish brothers," he told
Reuters. "How many people died fighting to liberate that country?
What they are doing now is disgraceful."
(Reporting by Jack Stubbs, Dmitry Solovyov, Andrew Osborn and
Alexander Winning; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Alexander
Winning and Richard Balmforth)
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