Mr Putin made the link between the war and a resurgence of Nazism

He said they were "leading the world to a dead end" and would not be tolerated in Russia.

His comments follow a series of attacks on foreigners - some of them fatal.

A report last week by Amnesty International said racist killings in Russia were "out of control", and that at least 28 people were killed in 2005.

Mr Putin made the speech to World War II veterans as Russia marked Victory Day, which celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, with a military parade in Moscow's Red Square.

Urgency

By using a big, set-piece occasion to raise the issue, Mr Putin is stressing the moral urgency of Russia's racist problem, says the BBC's Russian affairs analyst Steven Eke.

RACIST ATTACKS April 2006 - Senegalese student shot dead outside nightclub Oct 2004 - 20-year-old Vietnamese student stabbed to death by 18 skinheads Feb 2004 - Eight-year-old Tajik stabbed to death Living with race hate Attacks that stain Russia In pictures: Victory Day

"Those who are again trying to raise the defeated flags of Nazism, who sow ethnic hatred, extremism and xenophobia, are leading the world to a dead end, to thoughtless bloodshed and cruelty," the president said.

"For this reason, the defeat of fascism must be a lesson and a warning against the irreversibility of vengeance."

Russia is under increasing international pressure to crack down on nationalist groups, some of which openly display Nazi symbols.

Amnesty accused Russia of "turning a blind eye" to violent racist crimes.