Siberia and Russian Far East marks Victory Day, honouring those who defeated Nazis

Some 70,000 people took part in events in Vladivostok to mark the 71st anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. 

And 50,000 joined the Immortal Regiment procession, an idea born in Tomsk where ordinary Russians carry photographs in tribute to their ancestors who fought - and in many cases died - in a war that saw the Soviet Union lose as many as 28 million people. 

In Moscow later some 800,000 were expected, but across the Russian Far East and Siberia, impressive numbers attended this relatively new event, now an integral part the annual 9 May commemorations.

The day is one of the most sacred holidays in the Russian calendar. 

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, congratulating servicemen and veterans on Victory Day, said: 'Passing through deprivation, anguish and losses, the Soviet people defeated the dreadful enemy, defended the freedom and independence of the Motherland.

'We sacredly keep the memory of those who, not sparing their lives, fought on the fronts, constantly worked in the rear, displaying exceptional selflessness and valour. The feat of the generation of victors will always be an example of courage, inflexible will and selfless service to the motherland.'

Over 300 tanks, combat vehicles, multiple rocket launcher systems, tactical ballistic missile systems, self-propelled artillery systems and other Eastern Military District equipment rolled through Vladivostok, reported Sputnik.

Some 1,500 Pacific Fleet, surface ships and coastal defence troop formations, as well as Ministry of Emergencies and Ministry of Interior companies and naval college cadets, marched through the main street of Vladivostok. 49 armoured personnel carriers rode in mechanized parade columns.

Up to 7,000 troops marched in the Far East and Zabaikalsky Territory parades. In Khabarovsk, over 1,600 troops took part in the parade, 100 of them soldiers of the Kamchatka Marine Regiment. 

Over 90 pieces of military hardware, including the legendary T-34 tank and the Katyusha multiple rocket launchers, joined the servicemen.

Residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy saw for the first time the S-400 Triumf and the Pantsir-S missile systems, as well as the Rubezh and Redut coastal missile systems.

Novosibirsk held a parade featuring troops, armoured vehicles and a fly-over by fighter and bomber jets, followed by a march of the so-called Immortal Regiment initiative. The estimates of those marching with the Immortal Regiment swirled between 50,000 and 250,000.

Helicopters were grounded during the parade in nearby Krasnoyarsk due to low-hanging clouds, which did not prevent fighter jets from taking off for the fly-by.

In Irkutsk, 40,000 Immortal Regiment participants marched through the inner city to mark 71 years since the end of World War II. The march followed a 70,000-strong Victory Day parade involving troops, cadets and advanced military vehicles.

Last night in Yakutsk, some 16,000 people gathered in a 'Candle of Memory' commemoration.