Recast and upgraded with reaction and analysis.President Vladimir Putin said Russia is defending its historical lands on Wednesday as the nation approaches the one year anniversary of its bloody intrusion of Ukraine.Speaking at a state-organized performance the day prior to Defender of the Fatherland Day, which is a legal holiday, Putin provided a significantly short address to a crowd of 10s of thousands.
Ive just been hearing from the greatest military command that at this very minute there is a continuous battle on our historic lands, for our individuals.
It is led by similarly brave fighters to the ones standing next to us here today, he said, flanked by Russian soldiers.The presidents speech-- which lasted less than 5 minutes-- was preceded by performances from pro-war artists, Russian military veterans and a group of Ukrainian children obviously from the city of Mariupol, which was devastated in the early months of the invasion.
Today, protecting our interests, our people, our culture, language and territory, our entire nation is the protector of our Fatherland, Putin stated.
I acquiesce all of you.
Much of what Putin stated echoed his words from his state-of-the-nation address on Tuesday, as well as previous speeches he has actually provided because the start of the war.
Following a performance of the national anthem, Putin went on to give handshakes to military personnel on the stage, while the arena shouted Russia! When we are together, nobody can be our equal.
For the unity of the Russian nation! Putin said, before calling on the crowd to shout Russia! again.Tens of thousands of people braved subzero temperature levels to attend the occasion-- two days prior to the one year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine-- at Moscows Luzhniki Stadium, which hosted the football World Cup final in 2018.
Spectators attending the pro-war rally and performance in Moscows Luzhniki stadium.Sergei Fadeichev/ TASSOver 200,000 people took part in the event, news firm Interfax reported citing a Russian cops declaration.
Lots of waved Russian tricolor flags and provided soft applause in between efficiencies and speeches.Like previous such main rallies, most of the crowd appeared to be comprised of workers of state-run business, or federal government agencies, who had actually been told by their bosses to appear.
I didnt really wish to go to the performance, however at least Ill visit the arena-- Ive never been, a guy in his 50s making his way toward Luzhniki earlier in the day informed The Moscow Times.
We need to go and theres absolutely nothing we can do about it.
The authorities are using it as a propaganda tool, said another state staff member, who was participating in the concert and asked for privacy.
I wouldnt go to the event willingly.
Organizers obviously assured to distribute hot meals and Russian flags to attendees.A Moscow City Hall staff member who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Moscow Times that city staff members were sent out to Luzhniki stadium in order to make sure a big crowd.All concert attendees underwent strict security checks upon arrival at the stadium and independent media reported that a Pantsir air defense system was deployed close by.
Putins speech did not seem to motivate much enthusiasm among analysts, even strong advocates of the war-- and state-run TV broadcasts of the occasion did disappoint any high-ranking officials or other members of the Russian elite in the audience.The address was more like a speech by a rational head of state, not a leader of the crowd, pro-Kremlin expert Sergei Markov wrote on Telegram.
He was presenting arguments, not setting things on fire or inspiring.
The rally itself included several other speeches from participants of the special military operation, the Kremlins term for the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine wanted to ruin us and we were required to use up the weapons to safeguard our households, children and ladies, said Sergei Lomov, a soldier who appeared on crutches, wearing camouflage outfit embellished with a Russian flag.
The event included performances by different pro-war vocalists, including pro-Kremlin crooner Oleg Gazmanov, some of which were disrupted by technical problems.
At one point, a group of kids-- introduced by the performance hosts as kids saved from Mariupol -- was caused stage.
Thank you uncle Yura for saving me, my sister and numerous countless kids from Mariupol, stated a noticeably anxious girl prior to rupturing into tears.
Russia has beenaccused of forcibly deporting thousands of Ukrainian kids to Russian territory and putting them up for adoption, something that would constitute a war crime if proven to be real.
The lack of new ideas in Putins speech suggests that there will be no let-up in Russias effort to take more territory in Ukraine, according to Oleg Ignatov, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.
The idea of yesterdays state-of-the-nation address and todays rally-concert is the exact same: do not move, sit tight, were not going to alter anything, theres no turning back, we need to make it through, he told The Moscow Times.After the end of the event, the crowd rapidly distributed, with many heading for the dozens of buses parked near the arena.
Despite alcohol being banned, a Moscow Times reporter saw numerous greatly intoxicated males.
It was a good concert, stated a female, who declined to give her name however was curtained in a big Russian flag.