Russia's armed forces are being put through their paces ahead of the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow. Their rehearsals started in Moscow late on Tuesday.
Traffic was stopped in about ten Moscow streets in order to allow troops and armory to roll through in preparation for the big day. Drivers were advised to use alternative routes. More than 20,000 troops will march through Red Square on May 9 to mark the capitulation of Nazi Germany in 1945. For the first time they will be joined by 200 officers from Russia's Space Corps.Thousands of tons of military hardware will trundle across historic Red Square, including some of Russia's latest anti-missile systems.