Russia celebrated the 70th anniversary of victory in the World Anti-Fascist War with a large-scale military parade in Moscow's Red Square on Saturday.

The parade, the largest one since the fall of the former Soviet Union in 1991, was attended by about 20 leaders of nations and international organizations and saw participation by military units from 10 foreign states. The parade also attracted spectators from far and wide.

Russian couple Artium and Daria travelled 2,000 kilometers from their hometown specially to attend the event.

"It's something that, as a New Yorker, I'll never get to see again. You only see this on TV, but to be able to be here and actually experience it was truly an experience," said Raj, who also witnessed the celebrations.

Over 16,000 soldiers, a 50-percent increase from the number who participated in the 2010 parade, marched across Red Square. As a sign of respect for wartime history, several units were clad in WWII-era uniforms.

The legendary T-34 medium tank, widely recognized as the best and most efficient combat vehicle during WWII, led the mechanized column.

Some of 2,300 war veterans attending the parade shed tears at the sight of the T-34 tanks, which reminded them of battles they participated in 70 years ago.

Veterans' great-grandchildren, wearing stylized Soviet military uniforms, waved Russian tricolors and Soviet red flags to welcome the historical machines.

"You feel that it's so patriotic. You feel that you're Russian. And, it's magic," Daria said.

The final part of the parade was the traditional fly past, which involved 143 jets and helicopters of the Russian Air Force.

Renowned aerobatics teams comprising Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter jets formed a huge number "70" in the sky, and six other jets colored the sky with red, blue and white, Russia's national colors.

May 9 is Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War, Russia's term for WWII. The Soviet Union's great contributions in the fight against fascist forces in Europe cost the nation 27 million lives. More on: [ Ссылка ]

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