Russia's military potential is not small.

(Baonghean.vn) - According to CNN, for tens of thousands of spectators watching Russia's magnificent military parade on May 9, it was both a look back at the past and a preparation for the future.

Illustration: CNN.

The annual parade commemorates the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, and is also an opportunity for the Kremlin to showcase its current military might.

Throughout the morning parade, T-14 tanks rumbled into Red Square, and supersonic fighter jets roared across the skies of Moscow.

The large-scale parade took place as Russia's armed forces were seen as the strongest since the Cold War.

Modern military

Over the past decade, Russia has spent $1 billion modernizing and training its Soviet-inherited fighting force.

Huge investments are being made in the development of new generations of nuclear missiles, tanks and fighter jets. Even the Russian military uniforms have undergone significant changes.

Russia's massive nuclear arsenal has been at the center of attention, recently being equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to counter the US missile shield.

In addition, there are also world-class air defense systems and fighter jets being deployed by Russia in Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspect military exercises in Kirillovsky. Photo: VOX.

Step up military deployment abroad

However, what makes Russia possess such formidable military power is not simply its modern arsenal but also its readiness to deploy military force at the international level at any time.

Whether it was the five-day conflict with Georgia in 2008, the military intervention in Ukraine in 2014, or most recently the airstrikes in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad, the Kremlin has demonstrated a new assertiveness in foreign policy.

And even when President Vladimir Putin was sanctioned by many countries for those interventions, it did not reduce his popular support.

According to the Levada Analytical Center, even after Russia took deeper steps in the Syrian civil war, Mr. Putin still received an 82% approval rating.

Sustainable direction?

The military is an important foundation for Putin's patriotism. So he is willing to invest billions of dollars.

Although its defense budget has declined slightly in recent years, Russia remains one of the biggest spenders on these activities.

As one of the world's largest oil producers, Russia has been hit hard by the drop in global energy prices and has been forced to make spending cuts, including its military budget.

With oil prices remaining low, we may see Russia cut defense spending in the future.

The only thing that is unlikely to decline in the near future is public support for the military.

The following clip gives viewers an overview of the Russian army: a powerful army of 798,000 soldiers (240,000 army, 148,000 navy, 145,000 air force), the third largest air force in the world, owns more tanks than any other country,...

Central and South

(According to CNN)