Events to mark the holiday in the occupied territories seem to be an effort to show Russian control of land it has captured.

China's Xi Jinping joined Vladimir Putin for a huge Victory Day parade in Moscow, hoping to reassure Russians of their nation's strength as the Ukraine conflict grinds on.

The BBC's Vitaly Shevchenko looks at t Vladimir Putin has led Russia's Victory Day commemorations with a parade in Red Square and heightened security after days of Ukrainian strikes targeting the capital.