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The parade began with the ceremonial bringing of the victory banner. Soldiers of an honour guard company carried the red banner past lined-up regiments.

President Putin then addressed the parade participants. He congratulated Great Patriotic War veterans, personnel of the armed forces and all Russian citizens on the day of the great victory.

The President urged all civilised countries to learn lessons from the Second World War and join forces in the face of a new global and very serious threat – international terrorism. It was his conviction, he said, that one should not forget why the Nazis had arrogated the right to decide the destinies of peace, the destinies of other countries and peoples for themselves. In order to withstand the evil, the President said, it was necessary to strengthen the armed forces and learn how to be persistent from one’s fathers and grandfathers.

Following the speech by the President, the playing of the national anthem of Russia and an artillery salute, over 5,000 troops marched in solemn formation across Red Square.

A drum company from the Moscow Military Music School led the marching columns. It was followed, in parade formation, by staff of the Defence Ministry’s military academies, universities and institutes, a parachute regiment, instructors and students of the Moscow Military Institute of the Federal Border Service, a Black Sea Fleet Marines regiment, an Internal Affairs Ministry regiment, cadets of the Moscow Suvorov Military School and students of the Moscow Military Institute.

The parade ended with a performance of intricate marching routines and the marchpast of a Defence Ministry combined orchestra.

At the conclusion of the parade, President Putin met with graduates of cadet colleges.