Russian President Vladimir Putin will give an address in a southern Russian city to mark the 80th anniversary of the former Soviet army's victory over Nazi Germany in an intense battle there.

Putin is visiting Volgograd, formerly known as Stalingrad, to attend a ceremony to mark the occasion on Thursday. A military parade took place at the center of the city.

The parade displayed T-34 main battle tanks used by the Soviet Union's army during World War Two, as well as T-90M tanks being used in the Ukraine invasion, and aircraft.

Putin is scheduled to offer prayers for war victims in the city and give an address at the venue of a concert involving a military band and a choir.

The speech comes at a time when the United States, Germany and some other nations are stepping up their support for Ukraine. They have pledged to provide main battle tanks for Kyiv.

The Putin administration has harshly criticized the move. It insists that the war has become a battle to protect Russia from the US and European nations.

All eyes are on what Putin will say during his speech at the historic site, which Russians have regarded as the symbol of defense of the homeland during World War Two.