Belarus defied the coronavirus pandemic Saturday. Russia did not.

The ex-Soviet neighbors had both planned public celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of victory in World War II, but only Belarus pushed forward.

A military parade surged through the Belarus capital of Minsk, while Russia offered up only an airshow over Moscow’s Red Square and a wreath-laying by President Vladimir Putin.

The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has all but ignored the coronavirus — unlike most leaders of European nations, including Putin, who have ordered lockdowns. Russia is still under tight restrictions.

Lukashenko said his military parade reminds Belarusians of the hardships and sacrifices they made during the Soviet era, the BBC reported.

“They gave their lives so we could live today,” Lukashenko said before the parade. “That’s why we can honor our heroes on this sacred day. We cannot do anything different.”

Putin laid flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier near the Kremlin and gave a speech paying tribute to the bravery of the Soviet army during the war, PBS reported.

Belarus has reported 21,101 cases of coronavirus and 121 deaths. Russia has reported roughly 200,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths.