Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday oversaw a military parade commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Security was tight in Moscow as Putin was set to speak at the parade in the Red Square, even as a US-brokered three-day ceasefire eased concerns about possible Ukrainian attempts to disrupt the festivities.

Russia's Defence Minister Andrei Belousov was seen congratulating soldiers, including some from the North Korean army, according to AFP.

This year, for the first time in nearly two decades, the parade takes place without tanks, missiles and other heavy weapons, aside from a traditional flyover of combat jets.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the authorities have taken “additional security measures.”