Putin makes chilling 'victory' speech as bodyguards 'bring nuclear briefcase'

Vladimir Putin has declared "victory has always been and always will be ours" in his annual Victory Day speech - as his nuclear briefcase appeared to be carried nearby. Security was tight in Moscow as the Russian president and several foreign leaders attended the military parade commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Bodyguards carrying black bags likely to be fold-out bulletproof shields and what appeared to be Putin's nuclear briefcase were seen near the leader on Red Square. Putin, who has been in power for more than a quarter of a century, has long used Victory Day - Russia ’s most important secular holiday - to showcase the country’s military might and rally support for his military action in Ukraine. Speaking at the parade on Saturday, Putin hailed Russian troops fighting in Ukraine, declaring: "Victory has always been and will be ours". Putin also claimed the Soviet victory over the Nazis had inspired his soldiers fighting in Ukraine. "The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers who are carrying out the tasks of the special military operation today," he said. "They face an aggressive force that is armed and supported by the entire NATO bloc. And, despite this, our heroes are moving forward." But this year, for the first time in nearly two decades, the parade took place without tanks, missiles and other heavy weapons, aside from a traditional flyover of combat jets. Officials said the sudden change of format was due to the "current operational situation" and pointed to the threat of Ukrainian attacks. Heightened security meant drones were banned from filming the annual Victory Day military parade. Snipers were in place to guard against would-be assassins. In a break with tradition, Putin did not walk the short distance from Red Square to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the showpiece. Instead, he was transported in an armoured bus. Recent reports say he spends "weeks" living in bunkers amid his security paranoia. But Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no security threat had been detected at the parade after Volodymyr Zelensky decreed Ukraine would not attack the ceremonial event. “Nobody tried anything, everything is fine,” said Peskov.