Russia will hold its World War II victory parade in June after the event was postponed from its annual May 9 date because of the coronavirus pandemic, President Vladimir Putin reportedly said Tuesday.
Putin announced the new June 24 date during a video conference Tuesday with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to The Associated Press.
“We will do this … on the day of the legendary, historical victory parade in 1945,” Putin said, according to the AP.
He had postponed the annual event last month.
During the announcement, Putin ordered Shoigu to “ensure the strictest security standards while preparing for the parade.”
“The risks for all participants must be kept to a minimum, and better excluded [altogether],” Putin said, according to Reuters.
Russia has reported the third-highest number of COVID-19 cases worldwide, with 362,342 cases, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Russia has reported lower death rates than other countries, reporting 3,807 deaths, raising some questions from experts on whether Russian officials are manipulating figures.
Russian officials have denied doing so, however, and claim the lower death toll is due to the country’s lockdown efforts, the AP notes.