Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with war veterans and guests, attended the parade, which started at 10 am local time after the national anthem.

Putin said in a speech that defending the true heroes of the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War is a sacred duty in conditions when in some countries, some "shamelessly lie to their children" about the war and "are betraying their ancestors".

"The memory about the Great Patriotic War, about its truth, is our conscience and our responsibility. Today we see how in some countries they are deliberately distorting the events of the war, how they are making idols of those who forgot about their honor and human dignity and served the Nazis, how they are shamelessly lying to their children and betraying their ancestors," Putin said.

"Our sacred duty is to defend true heroes. We bow to all the veterans of the generation of victors," he said.