Kremlin reportedly caves to requests for May 9 Victory Day parade to be postponed

Four anonymous sources have told the business newspaper RBC that after extensive speculation about the fate of Russia’s 75th-anniversary Victory Day parade, Vladimir Putin has ultimately decided to postpone the celebration to a later date.

Three of the sources are close to the Putin administration; one is familiar with Defense Department operations. If the information they provided to RBC journalists is correct, an announcement delaying the parade may be made later this week.

The alleged shift in Kremlin decision-making follows requests from multiple World War II veterans’ organizations to postpone the Victory Day parade. The event typically features veterans, who are now at a high risk for complications due to COVID-19, in a major role. Officials had previously resisted announcing changes to their 75th-anniversary plans, opting at first to avoid inviting guests over 65.