The Russian military will start sending medical aid to Italy today to help the country fight the worrying spread of the coronavirus after receiving an order from President Vladimir Putin, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry.

The Kremlin said that Vladimir Putin spoke with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Saturday. The Russian head of state has offered his support and assistance in the form of mobile disinfection vehicles and specialists to help the hardest-hit regions of Italy.

Italy registered a jump in coronavirus deaths of nearly 800 on Saturday, bringing the total death toll to 5,000.

The Russian Defense Ministry said military transport aircraft would deliver eight mobile crews of military medics, special disinfection vehicles, and additional medical equipment to Italy on Sunday.

Russia itself has reported 306 cases of the virus, most of which are registered in Moscow. So far, there has been one case of a coronavirus dead in the country.