President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (Apr 16) postponed a landmark military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of Soviet victory in World War II, as Russia struggles to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus, CNA reports.
The "risks associated with the epidemic, whose peak has not passed yet, are extremely high," Putin said. "This does not give me the right to begin preparations for the parade and other mass events now."
He said the event would be held later in 2020.
Russia commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over the Nazis each year on May 9 with a massive military display that sees thousands of troops and tanks parade through Red Square and military jets fly in formation over the capital.
This year's parade was meant to be a major showcase, with world leaders and veterans from all over Russia invited to watch and take part in events over four days.
