An analysis by APA, the Azerbaijani press agency of  the UN Register of Conventional Arms showed  that Ukraine held the first place in the export of infantry fighting vehicles and armored vehicles in 2005-2010. Ukraine exported 685 vehicles, Russia 591, Belarus 2. Unlike Russia, the other two countries showed the models of the sold armored vehicles along with the number. Most of the military vehicles were sold to Iraq (190), Azerbaijan (165), Yemen (154), Chad (135) and Kazakhstan (104).

Yury Budanov, a former Russian army colonel and Russia's only convicted war criminal was shot dead in Moscow last Friday, a law enforcement source said, according to RIA Novosti news agency. Budanov was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2003 for the kidnapping and murder of an 18-year old Chechen girl Elsa Kungayeva, but was released early on parole in 2009.

Russia is sending a naval task force to patrol the pirate-infested seas off the coast of Somalia. The task force is led by Northern Fleet's destroyer Severomorsk which left its home base in northern Russia on May 8, and will be joined on route to the Gulf of Aden by the Yelnya tanker from the Baltic Fleet and a tug boat from the Black Sea Fleet.

"A task force led by Northern Fleet's Severomorsk destroyer will start escorting commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa in the first half of June," the ministry said.

Russia's president, speaking to the annual Victory Day display of military might on Red Square, says the country is committed to peace and global stability.

The Monday parade, marking the surrender of Nazi Germany in World War II, saw some 20,000 servicemen march in precision formation through the vast square outside the Kremlin, followed by 100 pieces of mobile military hardware from armored personnel carriers to lumbering Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile launchers.

In a speech to the troops and guests, President Dmitry Medvedev said "today Russia firmly upholds the principles of peaceful cooperation, consistently advocates for a security system and contributes to the overall effort to maintain global stability in the world."

Yesterday evening President Dmitry Medvedev met veterans at a ceremony in Moscow’s Armed forces Museum.

Several of the former soldiers invited him to join them in the mobile kitchen trailer in the Museum’s courtyard. They were all wearing medals denoting personal courage and distinguished service.

The president thanked them for their part in the victory over the Nazis and led them in a toast to the public holiday which has become known as ‘Victory Day’.

In London today wreaths will be laid at the Russian war memorial in the grounds of the Imperial War Museum and this afternoon HRH the Duke of Kent and the Russian Ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko will be present at a celebrations aboard HMS Belfast on the Thames.