Since August 2010, when the icon of Smolensk Saviour was uncovered and restored above the tower, the parade inspector, if holding military rank, has had to remove his headgear and cross himself before the inspection of troops during all Victory Day Parades. Each of the contingents, since 1996, have carried the historical military colors of the 1942 (Red Army, Soviet Air Force, NKVD Border Troops and Police, People's Militia) and 1932/1944 (Soviet Navy) patterns at the head of their formations, honoring the millions of who served in the ranks of the military and law enforcement services of the former Soviet Union during the Second World War. In 2018, an exhibition drill performance by the 1st Honor Guard Company, 154th Preobrazhensky Independent Commandant's Regiment took part in the finale segment of the parade together with a drumline from the Moscow Military Music College the first time since 2007 in a return to a tradition that began in the 2001 parade.