LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky and leader of the Night Wolves, a pro-Kremlin motorcycle club, Aleksandr Zaldostanov have already arrived.
Vladimir Putin is to address the nation in about five minutes. Here are the five things to watch for in his speech, according to Mashable's Christopher Miller.
Rossiya 24 says 1,237 chairs were prepared for the guests at the Grand Kremlin Palace.
Putin begins with thanking Russian servicemen who are fighting against international terrorism. He announced a minute's silence for all the Russian citizens who have died at the hands of terrorists.
Russia’s army is fighting in Syria predominantly for the sake of Russia and the Russian people, Putin says. The country has to destroy the militants before they get to Russia.
“Maybe, Allah decided to punish the ruling Turkish clique, depriving them of intellect and reason.” -- Putin's comments on the death of a Russian pilot in Turkey.
Putin says that Russia knows who, for instance in Turkey, is lining their pockets by trading with terrorists and sponsoring them at the same time. He also emphasizes that the Turkish people are “kind, hardworking, and talented.”
Next issue is corruption.
“Corruption prevents Russia’s development,” says Putin.