Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken center stage at Russia’s Victory Day parade on Friday, surrounding himself by friendly world leaders in a highly choreographed show designed to show the Western world that Russia is far from isolated.

Vladimir Putin has led Russia's Victory Day commemorations with a parade in Red Square, amid heightened security following Ukrainian strikes on Moscow. China's Xi Jinping joined the Russian president as he told thousands of soldiers that Russia remembered the lessons of World War Two.

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