Russia and other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, known as SNG, on May 9 held grand celebration to mark the 65 th anniversary of victory against fascism.

The Victory parade began at 10 a.m. local time in the capital city of Moscow and 36 other places, including the heroic cities of Saint Petersburg, Volgograd and Novorossiysk.

President and Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and leaders of more than 20 countries, including State President of Vietnam Nguyen Minh Triet, and nearly 3,000 veterans were overseeing the parade.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Medvedev said Russian people, from generation to generation, always keep in mind the sacrifice and the great triumph of the Soviet military and people in the Great Patriotic War for national defence.

The victory on May 9 has made a powerful Russia Federation, saving Russian and European people from the fascist slavery, he added.

Drummers and flag-bearers marched through the Red Square. They were followed by more than 11,300 troops dressed in World War II military uniforms. Marching alongside Russian soldiers were troops from other countries of the anti-fascism coalition including Britain, the US , France and Poland , and troop units from nine SNG countries.

The parade saw the demonstration of various legendary weapons, including the Soviet T-34 tank and modern weaponry such as the latest Topol-M heavy ballistic missile launchers.

After the parade, leaders of Russia and nearly 20 countries laid wreaths at the Tombs of Unknown Soldiers.

At 7 p.m. the whole Russia state had an official one-minute silence in memory of 26.6 Soviet people, of whom over 8.6 million were soldiers, who have fallen for national defence./.