Putin lays flowers at Tomb of Unknown Soldier as Russia marks Victory Day

Vladimir Putin left flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on Thursday 9 May, as Russia marked Victory Day. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in the Second World War, but eventually pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin, where Hitler committed suicide and the red Soviet Victory Banner was raised over the Reichstag in 1945. Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender came into force at 11:01 pm on 8 May 1945, marked as “Victory in Europe Day” by France, Britain and the United States. In Moscow, it was already 9 May, which became the Soviet Union’s “Victory Day” in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45. Watch more on Independent TV: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/editors-picks Click here to subscribe to The Independent: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent About The Independent: Making Change Happen. The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Connect with The Independent: Check out our full video catalog: https://www.youtube.com/c/theindependent/videos Videos, daily editorial and more: http://www.theindy.com Click here to get the best of The Independent daily: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Like The Independent on Facebook: https://www.fb.com/TheIndependentOnline Follow The Independent on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Independent Follow The Independent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.independent Download the iOS & Android app: https://www.independent.co.uk/subscribe/app Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust - https://www.independent.co.uk/donations Subscribe to Independent Premium for exclusive content & live events: https://bit.ly/2MiOONB