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The past years have changed the world, but it is still very vulnerable. The forces of evil have different names, but their ways have remained the same. As ever, they bring death and devastation and they can become as dangerous as Nazism at any moment, Mr Putin said in his address to participants in the parade.

Victory Day is a reminder that the lack of international action merely added to the strength of the fascists, that the world’s indifference enabled them to spread and allowed hatred and cruelty to prevail. The President stressed that these threats could only be countered by the joint efforts of and the united will of all peoples.

Our fathers and grandfathers never waited for rescue to come from the outside. The greatness of the people and the country lies in their personal feats and in their unity and heroic effort, Mr Putin said.

Over 5,000 troops took part in the military parade. Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov watched the parade while it was commanded by Colonel-General Ivan Yefremov, Commander of the Moscow Military District.

Following tradition, the parade was opened by a company of drummers from the Moscow Military Music School. They were followed by goose-stepping standard-bearers with the State Flag of Russia, the Victory Banner and the Banner of the Armed Forces. They were followed into the country’s main square by columns of cadets from the higher military schools of Russia, veterans of military actions in Afghanistan and Chechnya, and participants in the peace-keeping operations in the North Caucasus and the Balkans.

Concluding the parade was a performance of the 550-strong orchestral regiment.