Putin and Ukranian president attend military parade

(28 Oct 2004)

1. Wide shot a tank on Kiev's main street Khreshchatik
2. Soldiers marching
3. Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma, Russian president Vladimir Putin and next to him to the right prime minister and presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych
4. VIP stand
5. Parade
6. Soldiers marching
7. Spectator with video camera
8. Crowd, with man clapping and waving
9. Wide shot parade
10. Soldiers marching
11. Veterans watching
12. Crowd of veterans watching
13. Putin, on the VIP stand, talking to Kuchma, laughing
14. Wide march
15. Traditional dancers
16. Person from crowd below handing something to Yanukovych, who takes it and puts it in his pocket
17. Crowd as soldiers march past

STORYLINE:

Soviet-style pomp and politics dominated the anniversary of the liberation of Ukraine from Nazi Germany 60 years ago on Thursday, as the country entered the closing stages of the heated campaigning for this weekend's presidential vote.

Hundreds of cadets from Ukrainian military and police academies marched along Kiev's main street, watched by Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev.

Putin's presence at the parade was seen by many as a sign of Kremlin support for Viktor Yanukovych, the prime minister and a leading presidential candidate.

During the parade, Aliev stood some distance away from the other leaders, but Putin stood between Kuchma and Yanukovych, chatting with both.

Sunday's vote pits Yanukovych, who received Kuchma's backing, against Viktor Yushchenko, the country's top opposition leader and a Western-leaning liberal.

Ukraine saw some of World War II's fiercest battles, when German troops and their allies seized its territory and were later driven out by the Red Army. Kiev and many other cities suffered massive damage.

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