After trading embassy-attaches expulsions with the United States, Russia did another thing that resembles the Cold War era. For the first time since the collapse of the USSR, Russian tanks and intercontinental missile launchers were part of the Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square.

The new Russian leadership, Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, have decided to revive the custom of featuring military hardware in the parade which celebrates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, the year World War II ended.

However, Kremlin underlined the fact that the Soviet era custom of featuring military hardware during parades mustn’t be seen as a threat to anyone, it’s just a sign that Russia is a serious military force to be reckoned with.

"It is not sabre rattling. We do not threaten anyone and do not intend to do this, we are forcing nothing on anybody. We have everything enough," said Putin about the display of weapons on Monday.

Newly sworn-in Russian President Dmitry Medvedev led the parade held on May 9 to mark the 63rd anniversary of V-Day. To observe the occasion, the new president held a speech in which he warned that the history of WW II must not be repeated and vowed to fight against terrorism and extremism.

"Congratulations on the holiday, the victory day," Medvedev told an audience that included more than 8,000 soldiers and officers of the Moscow garrison.

Tanks and strategic bombers since 1991 were paraded in the Red Square. In all, more than 200 units of military equipment were paraded by the Russian Armed Forces.

About 30 aircrafts flew at an altitude of about 300 meters over the Red Square on V-Day together with aerobatics teams Russkiye Vityazi and Strizhi.