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Medvedev says Russia will rebuff agression
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-09 19:34

Military muscle

"This parade proves we have people to defend our motherland," said Pavel Bogodukhov, who fought the Nazis in Stalingrad and marched with the victorious Soviet army to Berlin. "We should feel proud that our armed forces are strong again."

Medvedev says Russia will rebuff agression
Military vehicles move along Red Square in Moscow during a Victory Day parade May 9, 2009. [Agencies] 

After Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov took the salute, standing in a grey, open-top Soviet Zil limousine, Russia's latest T-90 main battle tanks, armored vehicles, howitzers and cannons rumbled past the red-brick walls of the Kremlin.

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Around 70 combat aircraft and helicopters -- over twice as many as last year -- buzzed Red Square at a record low altitude of just 300 meters. The final formation of warplanes dropped a burst of burning stars over the square.

Making its first flight over Red Square was the Mil Mi-28 all-weather, attack helicopter, referred to by NATO as "Havoc."

Other aircraft included the Cold War-era nuclear-capable Tu-160 strategic bomber, the biggest military aircraft built to date which flies patrols close to NATO nations.

Russia celebrates Victory in Europe Day a day later than the rest of the world as it was early morning on May 9, 1945 in Moscow when the Soviet Union and its allies signed the Act of Germany's Military Surrender outside Berlin.