IN PICTURES: Russia commemorates Victory Day with military parade

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that "arrogant" Western elites are forgetting the decisive role played by the Soviet Union in defeating Nazi Germany.

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War Two but eventually pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin, where Hitler committed suicide and the red Soviet Victory Banner was raised over the Reichstag in 1945.

Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender came into force at 11:01 p.m. on May 8, 1945, marked as "Victory in Europe Day" by France, Britain and the United States. In Moscow it was already May 9, which became the Soviet Union's "Victory Day" in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45.

The parade also featured Russia's Yars intercontinental strategic missile which a TV announcer said has "a guaranteed capability to strike a target on any point of the globe"

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Guinea-Bissaun President Umaro Sissoco Embalo attend a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 79th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in Moscow. PHOTO: Reuters

Russian MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30SM jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation over the monument to Russian poet Alexander Pushkin during a flypast and a military parade on Victory Day. PHOTO: Reuters

Russian Su-25 jet aircraft release smoke in the colours of the Russian state flag over St. Basil's Cathedral during a flypast and a military parade on Victory Day. PHOTO: Reuters

Russian service members, who were involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine, march in columns during a military parade on Victory Day. PHOTO: Reuters

Russian service members ride on armoured vehicles during a military parade on Victory Day. PHOTO: Reuters

Russia's Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system unit and Tigr-M all-terrain infantry mobility vehicles drive along Red Square during a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 79th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia. PHOTO: Reuters

Russian Iskander-M missile launchers drive along Red Square during a military parade on Victory Day. PHOTO: Reuters

Russia's S-400 air defence system units drive along Red Square during a military parade on Victory Day. PHOTO: Reuters