Putin addresses soldiers at new Russian armed forces cathedral commemorating Soviet WWII role

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday visited a new cathedral dedicated to the Russian Armed Forces to mark the 79th anniversary of the Nazi German invasion of the Soviet Union, where he paid tribute to those who fought in World War II and addressed soldiers in the square in front of the cathedral. During the event, Putin greeted veterans of the war, who had been quarantined for two weeks prior to meeting the Russian leader to prevent the possible spread of the coronavirus, the Kremlin said last week. Putin later participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin Wall in Moscow. Earlier in the day, accompanied by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, Putin attended a service at the main cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces. The events are taking place in the run-up to a large-scale military parade on Red Square on Thursday that will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Ge