Soviet veterans celebrate Victory Day

Russian World War II veterans celebrate Victory Day in Moscow's Gorky Park, May 9, 2013.

Fighter jets screamed over Red Square and heavy tanks rumbled over its cobblestones as Russia marked the anniversary of its costly victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Smaller Victory Day celebrations were held in cities across Russia and other former Soviet countries.

Credit: Andrey Smirnov/AFP/Getty Images

Russian soldiers march in Red Square during the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Cadets of the Ukrainian Military academy prepare to celebrate the anniversary of victory over the Nazis at a memorial to World War II veterans in a memorial park in Kiev, Ukraine, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Efrem Lukatsky/AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Moscow's Red Square for the Victory Day Parade, which commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Belorussian youth take part in a Victory Day celebration in Minsk, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Victor Drachev/AFP/Getty Images

WWII veteran Vladimir Lebedev, 90, a former sniper and military intelligence officer, stands in Red Square after the Victory Day Parade, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Russian air force fighters fly over Red Square during a Victory Day parade, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

WWII veterans celebrate Victory day in Moscow's Gorky park, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Mikhail Metzel/AP

A woman places flowers during a ceremony at the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery in St. Petersburg Russia, May 8, 2013.

The ceremony was held as a memorial for the more than 1 million people that perished, mostly from hunger, during the 1941-1944 siege of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) by Nazi forces.

Credit: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP

Belorussian youth take part in a Victory Day celebration in Minsk, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Viktor Drachev/AFP/Getty Images

Russian Su-25 attack aircraft release smoke in the colors of the Russian flag while flying over Red Square in Moscow, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images

World War II veterans leave the podium after watching the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images

Russian World War II veterans, former navy sailors, celebrate Victory Day in Moscow's Gorky Park, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Andrey Smirnov/AFP/Getty Images

Russian military cadets march along Red Square during a Victory Day parade, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

A girl gives flowers to a veteran near the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Antakalnis memorial during Victory Day celebrations in Vilnius, Lithuania, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images

A Russian World War II veteran arrives to celebrate Victory Day in Moscow's Gorky Park, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Andrey Smirnov/AFP/Getty Images

An honor guard soldier holds a Soviet-era flag depicting Vladimir Lenin as people attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, May 8, 2013.

Credit: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP

Russian soldiers march along Red Square during the Victory Day parade, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Russian soldiers march along Red Square during the Victory Day parade in Moscow, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Russian World War II veterans walk after the Victory Day parade in Red Square, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets senior officers after the Victory Day Parade in Moscow's Red Square. During a short speech at the event, Putin said that Russia will be a guarantor of world security.

Credit: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

An Orthodox priest walks past an honor guard soldier holding a Soviet-era flag depicting Vladimir Lenin during a wreath laying ceremony at the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery in St.Petersburg, Russia, May 8, 2013.

Credit: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP

A young boy passes Chechen World War II veterans during a Victory Day parade in Grozny, the regional capital of Chechnya, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Musa Sadulayev/AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin, addresses troops and World War II veterans before the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, May 9, 2013, with the St. Basel Cathedral in the background.

Credit: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Russian marines salute as they march along Moscow's Red Square during the Victory Day parade, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Two young men speak with World War II veterans Aleksakin Nikolay 90, second left, and Anna Parukhova 90, second right, during Victory Day in Moscow's Gorky park, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Mikhail Metzel/AP

Russian Interior Ministry soldiers march along Moscow's Red Square during the Victory Day parade, May 9, 2013.

Credit: Ivan Sekretarev/AP