“The news about the heroic work of our military doctors quickly spread across the whole of Italy, we are receiving hundreds of calls and letters with words of gratitude to Russia and to Russian President [Vladimir Putin], who responded to a request from the Italian prime minister for help and sent a brigade in such a prompt manner, within a few days", Razov said at a briefing.
The ambassador added that governors of other regions of Italy [apart from Lombardy] have already turned to Russia with official requests for personnel to help in their fight against COVID-19.
"We have received such requests from the governor of Piedmont, from the governor of Apulia and from the governor of Friuli Venezia Giulia, so geographically speaking requests are coming from across the whole country", he said.
Since March, the Russian military has sent 15 aircraft and dozens of specialists to Italy, one of the most coronavirus-affected nations, along with disinfection and diagnostic equipment. Russian specialists have also helped their Italian colleagues with the construction of a field hospital in the city of Bergamo.
As per the World Health Organisation's data, updated at 11:00 am CEST, Italy has registered 187,327 coronavirus cases (up 3,370 from the previous day) and 25,085 fatalities.
