Russia Celebrates World War II Victory

MOSCOW —  Russian President Vladimir V. Putin presided Tuesday over the annual Red Square parade celebrating the World War II victory over Nazi Germany, paying homage to the sacrifice of elderly veterans but not mentioning the former Soviet Union’s allies.

In the Victory Day speech before thousands of veterans, diplomats and dignitaries packed into reviewing stands on Red Square, Putin called the Soviet war effort a lesson in national unity, but he pointedly left out any mention of the United States, Britain and France.

It was a reflection of the chill in Russia’s relations with the West since last year, when Putin welcomed dozens of world leaders to jointly celebrate the Allied victory in Europe.

Medal-laden World War II veterans paraded Tuesday throughout the former Soviet Union, celebrating their victory 61 years ago and mourning the comrades they had lost in the last year.

For many in the former Soviet Union, the victory stands out as their proudest moment. It was achieved at a tremendous cost, leaving an estimated 27 million people dead and much of the western part of the country devastated.

About 10,000 veterans and others marched in a Communist Party-led parade in Moscow, while other octogenarians gathered in parks and squares to dance to wartime tunes, toast one another with vodka and catch up with comrades.