(MENAFN) The Victory Day parade in Moscow, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat, concluded with a dramatic aerial performance by Russian military aircraft.

President Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and other visiting dignitaries watched as elite Russian aerobatic teams—the Strizhy (Swifts) and Russkie Vityazi (Russian Knights)—performed their iconic ‘Diamond of Kubinka Formation’ over Red Square. The maneuver featured five Su-30SM fighters and four MiG-29 jets flying in a tight diamond-shaped pattern.

The show continued with six Su-25 attack aircraft streaking across the sky, releasing colored smoke in white, blue, and red—the colors of the Russian flag. The Su-25, nicknamed "grach" (rook), has been a reliable part of Russia’s air fleet since the 1970s and remains in active use, including in the Ukraine conflict.

In total, about 11,500 troops participated in the parade, including veterans of the ongoing hostilities with Ukraine. They were joined by military personnel from China, Vietnam, Egypt, Mongolia, Myanmar, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and other former Soviet republics.

The ground portion of the parade showcased modern military hardware such as T-72, T-80, and T-90 tanks, a variety of armored vehicles, S-400 air defense systems, Tornado-S rocket launchers, and Yars mobile missile platforms. A new addition to this year’s event was a convoy of trucks displaying Geran, Lancet, and other drones from Russia’s unmanned arsenal.

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