Russia will always be victorious, says Putin at scaled-back Victory Day parade

Moscow blanketed in heavy security despite last-minute announcement of three-day ceasefire with Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has declared Russia will always be victorious as he oversaw a scaled-back Victory Day parade on Red Square held under heavy security amid mounting fears of Ukrainian attacks and growing public fatigue with the war.

Speaking to the crowd, the Russian leader invoked the sacrifices of the second world war to rally support for his soldiers fighting in the war in Ukraine.