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COMRAT, MOLDOVA - MAY 9: The 78th anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War was celebrated in Comrat, the capital of the Gagauz Autonomous Region of Moldova, on Tuesday, May 9.Former Soviet states on Tuesday marked the 78th anniversary of Victory Day, commemorating the 1945 Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during World War II, also known as the Great Patriotic War by some of these states.As part of traditional events surrounding Victory Day, wreaths were laid at military memorials and a minute of silence was observed at the local level in many former Soviet countries.A parade was also held in the Red Square in the Russian capital Moscow, which was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and other heads of state of former Soviet republics.Those that attended the festivities include the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Belarus. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also took part in the events.In a Twitter post, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated “veterans of Azerbaijan on the victory over fascism in World War II.”Meanwhile, the traditional Immortal Regiment events, which have been held since 2012 in memory of workers and military personnel, were canceled due to security concerns.Parades and marches were also canceled in the Saratov, Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Oryol, and Pskov regions due to security concerns, according to local authorities.On the same day, Ukraine is celebrating Europe Day. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared the day through a presidential decree on Monday.Zelenskyy said he signed a relevant decree to commemorate “the unity of all Europeans” who won against Nazism. (Footage by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)