The ceremony took place in the Alexander Garden and was attended by war veterans, Armed Forces servicemen and graduates of military schools. Defence Minister Andrei Belousov also laid flowers at the Eternal Flame.
Participants observed a minute of silence in memory of the defenders of the Fatherland.
The event continued with a guard of honour company and a military band marching past the national memorial of military glory.
The President also laid flowers at the Hero City obelisks and a memorial honouring the Cities of Military Glory.