Missiles, tanks and other heavy weaponry rolled through Moscow's Red Square in the annual Victory Day parade on Friday.
More than 100 tanks, mobile missile units and armoured vehicles joined the parade.
In his opening speech, Russian new president Dmitry Medvedev (MYED-VYE-DYEV), refuted western accusations of its military ambition.
"The history of the world wars warn us that armed conflicts do not arise by themselves. They are inspired by those, whose irresponsible ambitions overrule the interests of countries and whole continents, the interests of millions of people. And that is why we should remember the lessons from the war."
Victory Day, marking the defeat of Nazi Germany, is Russia's most important secular holiday. It honours the enormous sacrifices of World War II, in which nearly 9 million Red Army soldiers are estimated to have died, and asserts the country's military strength.