Russian media reports say President Vladimir Putin has postponed the 9 May Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This year sees the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, and the annual military parade has not been postponed before.
Putin said Russia was facing a difficult choice: 9 May was sacred, but so was the life of every person.
Heads of twelve veterans’ associations reportedly appealed to him on April 15 to move the event.
Putin said the parade would still be held later this year, though he did not name a date.
The head of the War Veterans' Association, Vladimir Shamanov, said on April 15 that the parade could take place instead on 24 June – the day when Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov led the 1945 parade – or 3 September, the day that World War Two ended.
Russian officials reported a new record increase of 3,448 coronavirus infections on Thursday, bringing the total number of the coronavirus cases to 27,938. Officially there have been 232 deaths as of April 16.
Lockdown rules to curb the spread of Covid-19 disease are in force throughout Russia. People have been told to leave home only if absolutely necessary, maintain social distancing and wear face masks.
