Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered authorities to start mass COVID-19 vaccination in the country from next week.

"I would ask you to organize the work so that by the end of next week we will have started this large-scale vaccination," Putin said in a video conference. 

The president noted that teachers and medics will be the first to receive the jab. 

Russia recorded 25,345 more COVID-19 infections over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 2,347,401, the country's COVID-19 response center said on Wednesday.

A record 589 new fatalities were reported over the past day, raising the country's death toll to 41,053.

(With input from agencies)