Russia on Tuesday staged a grandiose military parade through Moscow's Red Square as part of nationwide celebrations to mark 72 years since the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

“The lessons of past war force us to remain alert and the armed forces of Russia are capable of warding off any potential aggression,” President Putin said as he presided over the parade.

Thousands of troops, tanks and nuclear missile systems swept across Red Square's cobblestones in front of President Vladimir Putin, senior officials and war veterans.

An estimated 27 million of the former Soviet Union's soldiers and civilians were killed in World War II and the Red Army's triumph in the war is viewed as a huge source of pride in Russia.