Victory

Wed., May 9, 2007

World War II veterans, no names given, walk at the Moscow Red Square, Wednesday, May 9, 2007, after a parade to mark Victory Day. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays on Russia's calendar, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel) ORG XMIT: MOSB123 (Mikhail Metzel / The Spokesman-Review)

Russian troops march during a parade to mark Victory Day in Moscow's Red Square, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays on Russia's calendar, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel) ORG XMIT: MOSB122 (Mikhail Metzel / The Spokesman-Review)

World War II veterans, former navy officers, Konstantin Boroda, 83, left, and Yuri Lvov, 87, look at photos of friends as they meet during a Victory Day celebration in downtown Moscow, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Victory Day is one of the most important holidays on Russia's calendar, marking the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. It was achieved at a devastating cost, with an estimated 27 million dead and much of the western part of the country ravaged in four years of fierce battles known to Russians as the Great Patriotic War. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) ORG XMIT: MOSB120 (Dmitry Lovetsky / The Spokesman-Review)

World War II veterans celebrate Victory Day in downtown Moscow, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays on Russia's calendar, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev) ORG XMIT: MOSB127 (Sergey Ponomarev / The Spokesman-Review)

World War II veterans celebrate Victory Day in downtown Moscow, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays on Russia's calendar, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) ORG XMIT: MOSB121 (Dmitry Lovetsky / The Spokesman-Review)

With St. Basil's Cathedral in the background Russian, President Vladimir Putin speaks before a parade to mark Victory Day in the Moscow Red Square, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Putin on Wednesday warned that desecrating war monuments harms relations between countries, as Russia held annual commemorations for the victory over the Nazis with a grand parade through Red Square. (AP Photo/ Misha Japaridze) ORG XMIT: MOSB117 (Misha Japaridze / The Spokesman-Review)

Russian troops sing the national anthem before a parade to mark Victory Day in Moscow's Red Square, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays on Russia's calendar, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel) ORG XMIT: MOSB114 (Mikhail Metzel / The Spokesman-Review)

Russian fighter jets fly above the Kremlin's towers, from right, Spasskaya (Saviour), Tsarskaya (Czar's) and Nabatnaya (Tocsin), at the Moscow Red Square, Wednesday, May 9, 2007, during a parade to mark Victory Day. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays on Russia's calendar, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) ORG XMIT: MOSB109 (Ivan Sekretarev / The Spokesman-Review)

Russian President Vladimir Putin walks with flowers as he takes part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier outside Kremlin wall in Moscow on Tuesday, May 8, 2007. Russia will mark the 62nd anniversary of Victory in WWII on Wednesday, May 9. (AP Photo/ Misha Japaridze) ORG XMIT: MOSB111 (Misha Japaridze / The Spokesman-Review)

World War II veterans dance celebrating Victory Day in Gorky Park in Moscow, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays in Russia, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel) ORG XMIT: MOSB128 (Mikhail Metzel / The Spokesman-Review)

Russian troops in World War II era Soviet pilots' uniform march during a parade to mark Victory Day in the Moscow Red Square, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays on Russia's calendar, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel) ORG XMIT: MOSB132 (Mikhail Metzel / The Spokesman-Review)

Russian military cadets march during a parade to mark Victory Day the Moscow Red Square, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays on Russia's calendar, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel) ORG XMIT: MOSB131 (Mikhail Metzel / The Spokesman-Review)

World War II veterans Maria Udalova, right, and Alexander Minyanko dance celebrating Victory Day, in Gorky Park in Moscow, Wednesday, May 9, 2007. Victory Day, one of the most important holidays in Russia, commemorates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. For many Russians, the victory stands out as the most glorious feat of the nation's troubled past. (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev) ORG XMIT: MOSB125 (Musa Sadulayev / The Spokesman-Review)