Russians celebrate International Women's Day

Russia celebrated International Women's Day on Monday with volunteers across the country presenting flowers to women.

In Moscow, Kremlin riding school students on horseback presented tulips to women visiting the Soviet-era VDNKH (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy) expo park.

Volunteers offered flowers to medics in Rostov-on-Don and to passengers at the airport in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Army officers also congratulated women who participated in World War II with military bands playing outside their residences.

In a video statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin wished for all women to be "healthy, happy and successful in everything, to reach understanding with everyone who is dear to you".

Created in the 1920s as a form of propaganda, Women's Day originally was an opportunity to praise Soviet women and their role in the state.

During World War II, the holiday became even bigger as women were glorified for their heroic role in defeating the Axis powers.

Nowadays, the national holiday is not just a celebration of Russian women, it is also big business for suppliers and sellers of flowers.