Russia marks WWII victory
About 300,000 people walked through central Moscow holding portraits of relatives who fought in World War II. The march of the so-called Immortal Regiment was part of Saturday's commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. Earlier in the day, 16,500 troops took part in a military parade on Red Square celebrating the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in an boycotted by Russia’s World War II allies. Noticeably missing were leaders from the United States, Britain, France and other European heads of state, who boycotted the Red Square events in protest of Russia’s seizure last year of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and backing for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.Â
APTOPIX Russia Victory Day
Fireworks explode over St. Basil Cathedral at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
APTOPIX Russia Victory Day
A light show marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in WWII illuminates over the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. The annual Victory Day military parade through Red Square marked the surrender of Nazi Germany and the Red Army's key role in the defeat. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
APTOPIX Russia Victory Day
Local residents carry portraits of their ancestors, participants in World War Two as they celebrate the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. About 100,000 people walked in central streets in a march named 'Immortal Regiment' while carrying portraits of their relatives who fought in World War Two. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Russia Victory Day
Actors perform during the festive concert at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Russia Victory Day
Fireworks explode over St. Basil Cathedral at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Russia Victory Day
Fireworks explode over St. Basil Cathedral at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Russia Victory Day
Fireworks explode over St. Basil Cathedral at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Russia Victory Day
Actors perform during the concert at Red Square in Moscow, Russia, marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Russia Victory Day
A girl gives flowers to World War Two veterans during a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Russia Victory Day
Viktor Lukyanov, right, carries a portrait and medals of his mother Valentina Lukyanova, a participant in World War Two during a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. About 100,000 people walked in central streets in a march named 'Immortal regiment' while carrying portraits their relatives who fought in the war. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Vladimir Putin, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Nicolas Maduro, Cilia Flores, Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan, Truong Tan Sang, Ban Ki-moon
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, Mongolia's President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, third right back, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, fourth left, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, third left, his wife Cilia Flores, second left, China's President Xi Jinping, third right front, his wife Peng Liyuan, Vietnam's President Truong Tan Sang, right, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, second right back, and other officials take part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow after the Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, in Red Square, Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (Maxim Shemetov/Pool Photo via AP)
Russia Victory Day
Night Wolves bikers with their leader Alexander Zaldostanov, carry flags in the colors of St. George ribbon, a symbol of Soviet participation in World War II, arrive in Red Square to take part in a concert during celebrations of Victory Day in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (Host photo agency/RIA Novosti Pool Photo via AP)
Russia Victory Day
A concert is held in Red Square during celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (Host photo agency/RIA Novosti Pool Photo via AP)
Russia Victory Day
Valery Kutsalov wearing a Soviet army uniform holds a portrait of his father, a participant in World War Two during celebration of the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. About 100,000 people walked in central streets in a march named 'Immortal Regiment' while carrying portraits their relatives who fought in World War Two. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Russia Victory Day
Members of a historical military club wearing Soviet army uniforms sing during celebration of the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Russia Victory Day
People holding portraits of relatives who fought in World War II march through Red Square in Moscow, Russia, marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Russia Victory Day
Russian soldiers help WWII veterans to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow after the Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, in Red Square, Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Ramzan Kadyrov
Chechen regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov, center, wearing a Russian military uniform, attends celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, in Chechnya's provincial capital Grozny, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev)
Russia Victory Day
A theater stage performance "Seizure of Reichstag" is shown during celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, in Chechnya's provincial capital Grozny, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev)
Russia Victory Day
Victor Novopashin, 83, a Russian WWII veteran, center, dances with a young woman dressed in Soviet era uniform in Gorky Park in Moscow, Russia, on Saturday, May, 9, 2015, during the commemorations for the 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr.)
Russia Victory Day
People march as they carry an enlarged copy of the Banner of Victory and portraits of relatives who fought in World War II, in central Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. The march of the so-called Immortal Regiment is part of Saturday’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Alexander Zaldostanov
Night Wolves biker group leader Alexander Zaldostanov, left, talks to a Russian WWII veteran after the Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Kate de Pury)
Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, who joined the vast crowd as the first marchers reached Red Square, holds a photograph of his father in his naval uniform, as he walks with other people holding the banner reading "Immortal Regiment" and carrying portraits of relatives who fought in World War II through Red Square, in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. The march of the so-called Immortal Regiment is part of Saturday’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Russia Victory Day
In this aerial photo a copy of the Banner of Victory hangs from a copy of a WWII anti aircraft aerostat, above the Neva River, during celebration of the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Russia Victory Day
A WWII veteran gestures, while watching the Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)
Russia Victory Day
Russian army planes fly over the Red Square during the Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II, in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Russia Victory Day
People gather to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, at the Neva River embankment in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2015, with a torch lit on top of a Rostrum column in the foreground. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Russia Victory Day
Actors perform during the festive concert at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II, Saturday, May 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
Ukraine Victory Day
A tank crew stands in front of a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in WWII in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Saturday, May 9, 2015. Russia-backed separatist fighters took part in the parade. (AP Photo/Vasiliy Kolotilov)
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