Russia to hold World War II victory parade on June 24

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia will hold a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the defeat over Nazi Germany in World War II on June 24. The celebration was postponed from May 9 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Russian President Vladimir Putin made the announcement Tuesday during a video conference with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and ordered the ministry to start preparing for the event. Putin said he chose the date because it’s the same “day of the legendary, historical victory parade in 1945.” Putin said experts say Russia has passed the peak of its outbreak, but the country announced a record one-day virus death toll Tuesday of 174.