A military parade marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War has begun on Red Square.

The ceremony opened with the march of the banner group from the Preobrazhensky Regiment Honor Guard unit, which carried the Russian national flag and the historic Victory Banner across Red Square, The Caspian Post reports, citing TASS.

The Victory Banner was originally raised over the Reichstag by soldiers of the 150th Idritskaya Rifle Division overnight on May 1, 1945.

President Vladimir Putin, along with war veterans, invited guests, and foreign leaders, observed the parade from the central reviewing stand on Red Square.

The parade is being reviewed by Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and commanded by Ground Forces Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Andrey Mordvichev.