The Russian Defense Ministry said it will open a humanitarian corridor for civilians on Monday, but Ukrainian officials said they had not agreed with Russia on a route and leaving would not be safe.
The Russian leader will attend an upcoming regional meeting via teleconference, the Kremlin said. Putin said he got his second COVID-19 vaccine in April.
It's the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine, but it has not finished Phase III trials to assess safety and effectiveness in the general population.
Russia's capital, the epicenter of the country's coronavirus pandemic, is lifting restrictions as the Kremlin prepares for a massive military parade and a referendum on term limits.
An art project to shake the lockdown blues has become an online sensation as pent-up Russian speakers from across the globe reenact classic artwork to pass the time amid the pandemic.
President Vladimir Putin announced Monday that the country will begin easing its national "non-working period." Regional governments still have the authority to extend lockdowns and restrictions.
The Russian president says his country is making progress in its battle against the novel coronavirus, even as the number of Russians infected continues to rise.
Russia reported a spike of 771 new coronavirus patients on Thursday, sharpening a dreaded upward curve in cases. It has now confirmed more than 3,500 coronavirus cases.
Muscovites will have their movements followed through a program required on their smartphones. They will also have to carry a new QR code with their personal data.
