Russian President Vladimir Putin, back to a camera, watches the honour guard of the Presidential Regiment march on Cathedral Square in the Kremlin marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Putin cancelled a massive Victory Day marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II but ordered a flyby of warplanes over Red Square. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin marked Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, in a ceremony shorn of its usual military parade and pomp by the coronavirus pandemic.
In neighboring Belarus, however, the ceremonies went ahead in full, with tens of thousands of people in the sort of proximity that has been almost unseen in the world for months.
Putin on Saturday laid flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier just outside the Kremlin walls and gave a short address honoring the valor and suffering of the Soviet army during the war.
Victory Day is Russia's most important secular holiday and this year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but the Red Square military parade and a mass procession called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of the virus.
The only vestige of the conventional show of military might was a flyover of central Moscow by 75 warplanes and helicopters.
The ceremony was the first public appearance in about a month for Putin, who has worked remotely as the virus took hold.
In his speech, he did not mention the virus - Russia has nearly 200,000 confirmed cases - or how its spread had blocked the observances that were to be a prestige project for him.
But he promised that full commemorations would take place.
'œWe will, as usual, widely and solemnly mark the anniversary date, do it with dignity, as our duty to those who have suffered, achieved and accomplished the victory tells us,'ť he said. 'œThere will be our main parade on Red Square, and the national march of the Immortal Regiment - the march of our grateful memory and inextricable, vital, living communication between generations.'ť
The sharply reduced observances this year left a hole in Russia's civic and emotional calendar. The war, in which the Soviet Union lost an estimated 26 million people including 8.5 million soldiers, has become a fundamental piece of Russian national identity.
Beyond the stern formalities of the Red Square military parade and smaller parades in other cities, Russians in recent years have turned out in huge numbers for the Immortal Regiment processions, when civilians crowd the streets displaying photographs of relatives who died in the war or endured it. Russian officials routinely bristle at criticism of the Red Army's actions in the war, denouncing the comments as attempts to 'œrewrite history.'ť
An online substitute for the processions took place Saturday, showing streams of photos of veterans submitted by relatives.
A full military parade of some 3,000 soldiers was held Saturday in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, which has not imposed restrictions to block the virus' spread despite sharply rising infection figures. Tens of thousands of spectators, few of them wearing masks, watched the event.
President Alexander Lukashenko, who has dismissed concerns about the virus as a 'œpsychosis,'ť said at the parade that Belarus' ordeal in the war 'œis incomparable with any difficulties of the present day.'ť
Belarus's more than 21,000 recorded infections is higher than in neighboring Ukraine and Poland, both with populations about four times the size.
The former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan, which has not reported any coronavirus infections, held a large parade and procession late Saturday in the capital Ashgabat - the first time the country has marked Victory Day with a large public display.
Among the guests was deputy Russian Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, whose speech at the ceremony underlined Russia's sensitivity about interpretations of World War II.
"Now, unfortunately, in a number of countries we see attempts to revive Nazi ideology, falsify the common history, exalt traitors and revise the role of the Soviet people in the victory over fascism,'ť he said.
None of those at the parade wore masks or observed social distancing.
In the capitals of Latvia and Estonia, both former Soviet republics with large ethnic Russian populations, small groups were seen arriving throughout the day to lay flowers on Soviet war memorials.
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Yuras Karmanau in Minsk, Belarus; Alexander Vershinin in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and and Jari Tanner in Helsinki contributed to this report.
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Follow AP's coverage marking the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe at https://apnews.com/WorldWarII
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Putin cancelled a massive Victory Day marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II but ordered a flyby of warplanes over Red Square. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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People attend the Victory Day military parade that marked the 75th anniversary of the allied victory over Nazi Germany, in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Belarus remains one of the few countries that hadn't imposed a lockdown or restricted public events despite recommendations of the World Health Organization. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, center, gives a speech during a military parade that marked the 75th anniversary of the allied victory over Nazi Germany, in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, May 9, 2020. (Sergei Gapon/Pool Photo via AP)
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In this two photo combination, top photo showing Russian military helicopters fly over over almost empty Red Square to mark the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020, and bottom photo showing a column of Belarus Army tanks in motion during the Victory Day military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the allied victory over Nazi Germany, in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Russian President Vladimir Putin has marked Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, in a ceremony shorn of its usual military parade and pomp by the coronavirus pandemic. In neighboring Belarus, however, the ceremonies went ahead in full, with tens of thousands of people in the sort of proximity that has been almost unseen in the world for months. (AP Photo)
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Ermakov's family who cannot go outside to celebrate Victory Day due to coronavirus hold portraits of their ancestors, participants in World War II while standing on the balcony of their apartment in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, is Russia's most important secular holiday and this year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but military parades in Russian cities and a mass processions called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Putin cancelled a massive Victory Day marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II but ordered a flyby of warplanes over Red Square. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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Russian military helicopters fly over Moscow's City skyscrapers and empty streets to mark the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. A massive Victory Day parade on Red Square was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but Russia marked the holiday with the flyby. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
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People dressed in old uniforms march during the Victory Day military parade that marked the 75th anniversary of the allied victory over Nazi Germany, in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Belarus remains one of the few countries that hadn't imposed a lockdown or restricted public events despite recommendations of the World Health Organization. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
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People attend the Victory Day military parade that marked the 75th anniversary of the allied victory over Nazi Germany, in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Belarus remains one of the few countries that hadn't imposed a lockdown or restricted public events despite recommendations of the World Health Organization. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
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Police officers help Vakhtang Adamashvili, 94, veteran of the WWII with a portrait a portrait of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin to attend a laying ceremony at a war memorial in the Victory Park marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Tbilisi, Georgia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)
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Two Soviet army veterans wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus talk to each other at a memorial to World War II veterans in a memorial park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 9, 2020 on the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Ukraine marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe at a time of coronavirus lockdown and loneliness spent in search of memories both bitter and sweet. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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A woman hangs a portrait of her ancestor, a participant in World War II on the window of her apartment during Victory Day celebration in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, is Russia's most important secular holiday and this year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but military parades in Russian cities and a mass procession called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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A woman wearing a face mask to protect against coronavirus walks past posters with portraits of the Soviet Army soldiers, participants in World War II during celebration of the 75th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, is Russia's most important secular holiday and this year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but military parades in Russian cities and a mass processions called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of coronavirus. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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A Navy orchestra perform on the deck of the Aurora cruiser during the Victory Day celebration amid the ongoing pandemic of the COVID-19 in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, is Russia's most important secular holiday and this year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but military parades in Russian cities and a mass processions called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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Municipal workers in special suits to protect against coronavirus disinfect an area around the monument to the Unknown Soldier in flowers at a memorial to World War II veterans in a memorial park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, May 9, 2020 on the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Ukraine marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe at a time of coronavirus lockdown and loneliness spent in search of memories both bitter and sweet. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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An elderly resident of a House of War and Labor Veterans and a medical worker, who cannot go outside to celebrate Victory Day due to coronavirus, watches a march of members Yunarmia (Young Army), an organization sponsored by the Russian military that aims to encourage patriotism among the Russian youth, in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, is Russia's most important secular holiday and this year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but military parades in Russian cities and a mass processions called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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Russian military helicopters fly over over almost empty Red Square to mark the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. A massive Victory Day parade on Red Square was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but Russia marked the holiday with the flyby. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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In this two photo combination picture, top photo shows local residents carry portraits of their ancestors, participants in World War II, at the Nevsky avenue as they celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, May 9, 2018, and bottom photo shows Nevsky avenue in the day of the 75th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II in St. Petersburg, Russia on Saturday, May 9, 2020. Victory Day is Russia's most important secular holiday and this year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but the Red Square military parade and a mass procession called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
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In this two photo combination picture, top photo shows People carry portraits of relatives who fought in World War II, during the Immortal Regiment march through the main street toward Red Square celebrating 74 years since the victory in WWII in Red Square in Moscow, Russia on taken on Thursday, May 9, 2019, and bottom photo shows an almost empty main street during the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. A massive Victory Day parade on Red Square was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but Russia marked the holiday with the flyby. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
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In this two photo combination picture, top photo shows people carry portraits of relatives who fought in World War II, during the Immortal Regiment march through Red Square celebrating 74 years since the victory in WWII in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, May 9, 2019, and bottom photo shows almost empty Red Square during the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Victory Day is Russia's most important secular holiday and this year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but the Red Square military parade and a mass procession called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of the virus. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
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Russian warplanes fly over Red Square leaving trails of smoke in colors of national flag to mark the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. A massive Victory Day parade on Red Square was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, but Russia marked the holiday with the flyby. (AP Photo/Mikhail Kirakosyan)
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Russian President Vladimir Putin watchs a military flyover of Red Square by 75 warplanes and helicopters marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Putin cancelled a massive Victory Day marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II but ordered a flyby of warplanes over Red Square. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
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Russian servicemen wearing protective face masks to protect against coronavirus hold a wreath at the WWII Soviet Heroes cemetery, during Victory Day celebrations, in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Diplomats and military representatives marked Victory Day, 75 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany, in small numbers due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions on gatherings. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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Floral tributes left at a memorial for Cypriot soldiers who fell during World War II in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Saturday, May 9 2020. A day after Europeans commemorated the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, Cypriots were slowly emerging from a strict stay-at-home order to combat the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
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A man poses for a photo with a red flag in front of the closed Red Square during the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 9, 2020. Victory Day is Russia's most important secular holiday and this year's observance had been expected to be especially large because it is the 75th anniversary, but the Red Square military parade and a mass procession called The Immortal Regiment were postponed as part of measures to stifle the spread of coronavirus. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
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