Russian kids dress up in tank costumes for Victory Day

Moscow: Russia is planning lavish celebrations for the annual Victory Day parade on May 9, marking the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, reports Daily Mail.

A video emerged from Russia shows kindergarten kids, dressed up in military outfits, parading ahead of the Victory Day bash.

Groups of children wearing Russian tank costumes with white ' Z' symbols emblazoned on the front took to streets.

" Z" symbols have become a common feature of Moscow's military vehicles currently fighting in Ukraine.

The white 'Z' is also a key propaganda symbol in Russia since its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

A boy in military uniform wearing a leather helmet moved with cardboard tank fitted around him.

Other children were shown dressed as fighter jets, soldiers and army medics. At least two more were also dressed as tanks, decorated with red Soviet stars, the report said.

With the parade, Putin may well be declaring to his nation some form of victory in Ukraine on May 9.

But on battle front, Russian forces continue to face casualties with one report put that 25,000 Russian soldiers may have been killed so far.

Even teachers also put on Soviet-style military costumes for the courtroom parade of the kindergarten.

Victory Day on May 9 Russia annually marks the sacrifices made by Soviet Union in defeating Nazi Germany, which is among Russia's most important national events.

Victory Day parade is expected to be the largest rolling through Moscow streets.

Daily Mail said Putin might use the occasion to declare either war on Ukraine or claim smaller victory in Mariupol.

While still observing Victory Day on May 9, Ukraine since 2014 instituted a Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation on May 8, showing allegiance to Europe just as France, Britain, USA mark ' victory in Europe Day'.

The rehearsal on Saturday saw Russia parading nuclear missile through Moscow's Red Square as warning to the West, according to the report.

Weighing 49.6 tonnes, the ballistic missile could travel up to 24,500km coming in the rage of striking London or New York in minutes.

Meanwhile, addressing the nation marking the Nazi Germany's surrender, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv would prevail despite evil returned to Ukraine.

Military analysts reportedly said Ukraine's counter offence was making gains around Kharkiv; also, Ukrainian forces are making in a final stand against the complete takeover of Mariupol.