The Red Square 9 May parade was cancelled because of the pandemic but in neighbouring Belarus the parade went ahead in the centre of the capital Minsk, with a concert and festive fireworks planned as part of the programme.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko appears unfazed by the pandemic. He has not followed the European pattern of imposing sweeping restrictions.
Russia is still under lockdown and for seven days in a row it has recorded more than 10,000 new Covid-19 infections.
And yet Mr Lukashenko refused to cancel his military parade, since it serves a patriotic purpose: to remind people of Soviet-era hardship and sacrifices.
Speaking ahead of the parade, he said: “They gave their lives so we could live today, that’s why we can honour our heroes on this sacred day. We cannot do anything different.”
