Just one tank rolled through Moscow and no aircraft soared overhead as Vladimir Putin spoke at a stripped-down Victory Day parade in Red Square.

With the war in Ukraine inflicting huge losses on Russian troops and armour it was a much reduced display outside the Kremlin on Tuesday.

Speaking to rows and rows of soldiers in dress uniforms, Mr Putin said a “war has been unleashed” against Russia as he marked the anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

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The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War Two, including many millions in Ukraine, but eventually pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin.

In a 10-minute speech, Mr Putin repeated familiar messages he has delivered many times since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

He said the world was at a key turning point and Russia is engaged in a patriotic struggle for its future.

He accused “Western globalist elites” of sowing Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, while the Ukrainian people had become “hostages to a state coup” and to the ambitions of the West.

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Also spotted in Red Square was Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has been a key ally of Mr Putin during the war.

The Kremlin chief did not address the challenges facing Russia as its forces prepare for an expected major counteroffensive by Ukraine or outline any path to victory.

NATO-standard battle tanks and other weapons have been pouring into Ukraine in anticipation of the counteroffensive, along with thousands of freshly trained Ukrainian troops.

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The speech came after another huge volley of missiles were launched by Russian forces, chiefly at Kyiv. Ukraine says it shot down 23 of the 25 missiles and there were no reported casualties.

It was the second night in a row of major Russian air strikes and fifth so far this month.

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