Putin Schedules Russian Victory Day Parade for June

May 27, 2020

The Wall Street Journal

Under pressure over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s faltering economy, President Vladimir Putin said the country would hold its showcase annual Victory Day military parade next month.

The parade, a potent symbol of state power in Russia, has additional significance this year as it marks the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. It was pushed back from its May 9 date as part of a series of measures to contain the spread of the pandemic, which has seen Russia rise up the ranks of worst-affected nations behind the U.S. and Brazil. It has registered more than 360,000 confirmed cases and an official death toll of 3,807.

“We’ll do this on June 24, on the day when the legendary historic parade of victors was held in 1945,” Mr. Putin said Tuesday during a videoconference with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom he ordered to begin preparations.

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