60th anniversary of liberation of Ukraine from the Nazi occupation marked

Three days ahead of Sunday's presidential election, Ukrainians celebrated the 60th anniversary of Kiev's liberation from Nazi Germany in an atmosphere of tight security, Soviet-style pomp and highly charged last-minute political campaigning.

President Vladimir Putin watched a Soviet-style military parade, continuing his high-profile support for Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in the race.

Yanukovych, Kuchma's chosen successor, is running neck-and-neck with pro-Western liberal candidate Viktor Yushchenko, a former prime minister and Central Bank chairman.

Putin stood alongside Yanukovych and outgoing Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma as thousands of Ukrainian soldiers dressed in World War II uniforms marched in formation with Soviet flags and tanks along Khreshchatyk, central Kiev's main thoroughfare.

All the streets surrounding Khreshchatyk were closed off, and access to Independence Square, where the viewing stand for the parade was located, was severely restricted. Security service sharpshooters were in place around the parade route, with orders to shoot at anyone suspicious. Hotel residents were told not to watch the parade from their balconies, and even to keep their drapes closed.

A group of about 40 World War II veterans looked on deeply moved, as honor guards atop a vintage T-34 tank held the Soviet hammer-and-sickle flag that had fluttered over the Reichstag to mark the fall of Berlin in May 1945. The flag was brought from Moscow last week amid tight security.

Source: Moscow Times