VLADIMIR Putin has vowed Russia is "always" ready to strike and snubbed the UK in a snarling World War 2 rant at Russia's annual Victory Day parade.
The Russian tyrant instead lavished praise on China and declared Russia was "combat ready" in these "difficult" times at this year's scaled-back event.
May 9 parades are held throughout Russia as a means of celebrating the country's defeat over Nazi Germany in 1945.
The day revolves around showcasing the might of the Russian military machine, recalling war time sacrifice and garnering national pride - led by a giant event in Moscow's Red Square overseen by Putin.
"We must never forget the lessons from World War 2... and never forget our allies," the Russian leader, 71, declared in front of thousands of soldiers in one of his shortest Victory Day speeches yet, lasting only seven minutes.
Ignoring the role that the UK, US and other allied nations played in what Russia calls its "Great Patriotic war", Putin seized the moment to tell his citizens Russia's sovereignty was threatened.
As snow whipped across the vast square, the despot declared: "Russia will do everything to prevent a global clash.
"But at the same time we will not allow anyone to threaten us. Our strategic forces are always in a state of combat readiness."
Putin accused "arrogant" Western elites of forgetting the decisive role his country played in World War 2.
The Soviet Union lost about 27 million people in the war, an estimate that many historians consider conservative, scarring virtually every family.
After calling for a minute of silence, Putin ended with the words: "For Russia! For victory! Hurrah!", providing the cue for thousands of troops to answer with three bellowing cheers.
In a blow to Putin, many regional parades were scrapped this year over what governors called "security concerns".
Amongst all the pomp and propaganda, there was evidently less military hardware on display compared to events prior to Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
Embarrassingly, there only seemed to be one tank roaring through the Red Square.
Russia has suffered huge losses of both troops and equipment on the battlefield.
A UK intelligence assessment last week suggested 450,000 Russia soldiers had been killed or wounded in Ukraine - with losses surging to 1,300 troops per day in the last two months.
It also claimed Russia had lost 3,000 main battle tanks, 10,000 armoured vehicles, 109 aircraft and 23 naval vessels in the war so far.
What is Russia's Victory Day?
ON May 9, Russia celebrates Victory Day. But what is it?
This year marks the 79th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War 2.
The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what Russians call the "Great Patriotic War" - more than any other country.
Victory Day is one of Russia's most important public holidays.
For Putin, it is an opportunity to project to his people an image of Russia as a powerful nation of winners, standing on the right side of history in defeating fascism.
Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender came into force at 11:01 p.m. on May 8, 1945, marked as "Victory in Europe Day" by France, Britain and the United States.
In Moscow it was already May 9, which became the Soviet Union's "Victory Day".
Soviet leader Josef Stalin decreed a holiday, and the first victory parade on Red Square, featuring captured German insignia, was held on June 24, 1945.
Under Putin, Victory Day increasingly became a muscular display not only of marching battalions but also of Russia's latest weaponry, including warplanes, tanks, and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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