The Victory Day parade on Red Square was brief and featured Russia’s unmanned systems troops and North Korean soldiers for the first time.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to uphold a three-day ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump while Russia holds its annual Victory Day parade on Saturday, though the event was set to be scaled back over security fears.

Russia’s Victory Day parade has traditionally showcased the Kremlin’s military power. But this year’s event will be scaled back - with almost no hardware expected to be on display, fewer foreign leaders attending and limited international media access.

The surprise ceasefire, first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, is scheduled to remain in place from May 9-11.

The parade kicked off shortly after 10:00 am Moscow time with a formation of soldiers carrying the Russian flag into the square. View on euronews

Security is tight in Moscow as President Vladimir Putin prepares to speak at a Red Square parade on Saturday, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II

The parade kicked off shortly after 10:00 am Moscow time with a formation of soldiers carrying the Russian flag into the square.

This year's event was scaled back, with no tanks, missiles and other heavy ground weapons on display for the first time in two decades Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday oversaw a military parade commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II on Red Square.