Putin hosts Victory Day parade with tight security

Addressing Russia's military, veterans and more than 20 international leaders including China's Xi Jinping, Putin said Russia remembered the lessons of World War Two.

He used his speech to tie the war to today's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and said all of Russia was behind what he called the "special military operation" - now well into its fourth year.

A unilateral, three-day ceasefire was announced by Russia to coincide with the lavish 80th anniversary event, which Ukraine has rejected as a "theatrical show".

Before Putin's address and a one-minute silence, the commander of ground troops, Oleg Salyukov, led 11,000 troops into Red Square, including some 1,500 who had fought in Ukraine. They were then inspected by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

Putin insisted that Russia "was and will be an indestructible barrier against Nazism, Russophobia, antisemitism". The Russian leader has repeatedly and falsely referred to Ukraine's leadership as Nazis.

"Truth and justice are on our side," he said, insisting that "the "entire country, society and people support the participants" of the Ukraine war.

Russia says 27 world leaders are attending the event, with thousands of troops marching on Red Square ahead of a parade of some of Russia's latest weaponry.

China's Xi Jinping had pride of place, sitting alongside Vladimir Putin on the platform in Red Square, and sporting an orange and black St George ribbon, which Russia sees as a symbol of military glory but which has been banned by several neighbouring countries.