Moscow: Russia plans to restore its Soviet-era tradition of displaying military might at Red Square on Victory Day May 9,two days after President-elect Dmitry Medvedev assumes office. However, outgoing President Vladimir Putin has denied that display of the military might, including intercontinental ballistic missiles and a flypast by scores of warbirds and Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers, first time since the last Soviet parade on November 7,1990,is "sabre-rattling" by Moscow.

"For the first time in many years, military hardware will be involved in the parade. This is not sabre-rattling. We threaten no one and do not intend to do so," Putin said at his farewell meeting with Cabinet and Kremlin administration members. "It is a simple display of our growing defence capability," Putin said in televised remarks.

After quitting Kremlin's top job, serving two terms totalling eight years, Putin is due to takeover the post of the Prime Minister on May 8,along with many powers currently enjoyed by the president. In a dress rehearsal today for the Victory Day parade to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany in Second World War, over two hundred pieces of military hardware, including the high-precision Iskander missiles and hundred-tonne mobile Topol-M ICBMs rolled through the cobblestone Red Square, crowned by the impressive flypast by over 30 warbirds.

Source : PTI