Vladimir Putin’s tub-thumping speech yesterday was likened to ‘Billy Graham meets North Korea’ by a Russian commentator, a reference to both the American Christian evangelist and Kim Jong-un’s propagandising rallies, while the YouTube live stream of the rally was flooded with critical comments.
Tens of thousands of flag-waving Russians packed out Moscow’s Luzhniki World Cup stadium on Friday as the despot attempted to drum up support for his stalled invasion of Ukraine, peddled debunked claims about why the war started and shilled a false narrative of Russia’s battlefield ‘success’.
However, speaking to journalists outside the stadium, some said they were government workers who had been pressured to come, and were bussed to the event. Students were offered a break from their lectures by being allowed to attend ‘a show’.
One video shows that when a photographer tried to capture the crowd outside of the stadium, people turned their backs towards the camera to cover their faces.
Telegram stations critical of Kremlin claimed that state employees in several regions received orders from their superiors to participate in rallies marking the Crimea Anniversary. These reports were not independently confirmed.
However, the person who created a YouTube livestream of the event did not disable the comment section. This meant that thousands of negative comments – in Russian – flooded the page as well as blue and yellow heart emoticons – which were the colours used by the Ukrainian flag.
Putin spoke of the Bible’s John and praised his soldiers in Ukraine. “It’s the words of sacred scripture that come to mind when I think about it: There is no greater love than giving your life for your friends,” he stated.
It was anti-Western in nature and filled with Soviet nostalgic. This happened because Russian authorities increased patriotism after being hit by huge international sanctions on Putin’s Ukraine campaign. But, it has now stalled due to fierce resistance. Numerous Russian soldiers died.
Putin’s rally quickly became a comparison to the similar marches of North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un, which were said to have been attended by people who had no choice but to go, and to large evangelical rallies that Billy Graham hosted in America.
According to The Daily Telegraph, one Russian commentator called it “Billy Graham meets North Korea.”
After the invasion, Russia has taken tougher measures against information flow and dissent. They have arrested thousands of people protesting the war and blocked sites like Facebook.
The rights monitor OVD Info, which tracks political arrests reports that at most seven independent journalists were arrested prior to or during coverage of the anniversary events held in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Other signs indicated that it was not all what it appeared. Some reports claimed that footage was used at the rally from footage taken from 2021.
A bizarre incident occurred during the speech when Putin disappeared suddenly from news feeds mid-sentence. He was replaced by a band mid-sentence through singing. This could indicate that his address wasn’t broadcast live.
Putin spoke in front of a crowd tens of thousands strong at the Luzhniki World Cup stadium in Moscow, one of the few times he has been seen in public since launching his invasion 23 days ago
Vladimir Putin made a speech yesterday that was a loud and enthusiastic celebration of his victory over Ukraine in 2014. He also encouraged support for his new war.
Putin-supporters in the crowd waved banners with the letter Z on them, which was adopted as an emblem of the invasion.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waved at the crowd at a military parade held at Kim Il-sung Square, Pyongyang (North Korea), September 9, 2021 (file photograph)
Pictured: Reverend Billy Graham speaks to a huge congregation at an open-air meeting in London’s Trafalgar Square, during his Greater London Crusade Tour in 1954
The despot took to the stage dressed in a £10,000 Loro Piana jacket – despite his country’s economy crumbling under the weight of Western sanctions – to address a crowd waving Russian national flags and banners marked with the letter ‘Z’, which has become a potent symbol of the invasion.
Putin, who called the rally to mark the anniversary of the last time he attacked Ukraine to annex the Crimea region, spoke of sharing a ‘common destiny’ with Crimeans, of ‘de-Nazifying’ the region in 2014, and of the ‘bravery’ of soldiers currently fighting in Ukraine. His words were met by chants “Russia, Russia,”
Speaking in front of banners that read ‘For a world without Nazism’ and ‘For Russia’ – with the letter ‘Z’ in each picked out in bold – he said: ‘Sevastopol [capital of Crimea]They did what was right when they built a wall to keep out neo-Nazism and other radicals. This is also happening in other areas.
‘[The]The people of Donbass were also opposed to this and immediately organised military operations against it. [the Nazis]. The Ukrainians launched airstrikes to destroy them after they were shelled and surrounded by guns. “This is known as genocide,” he stated, repeating the widely discredited justification for attacking. “It was to spare people from suffering and genocide that I launched my military operation.”
Putin expressed his appreciation for troops participating in the “special operation”, which he stated was dedicated to the defense of all Russians’ values. The words ‘we don’t abandon our own’ were emblazoned on screens around the stadium. In a paraphrase of the Bible, he stated that “There is no greater love then giving your soul to one’s friend.”
“It is clear that our troops are supporting one another during the operation. They fight shoulder to shoulder. They cover one another as though they were protecting their brother from bullets when it’s necessary. “We have not had this unity in a very long time,” he stated.
Putin used the rally as a platform to discredit the reasons for the war and sell a narrative about Russia’s military success.
Putin addressed the gathering to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the annexation of Crimea. He spoke of the ‘de-Nazification’ of the peninsula as well as debunked claims about ‘genocide in the Donbass’.
At a Moscow World Cup stadium rally, a Russian man points towards the stage. He is supporting Putin’s war in Ukraine while his military shells civilian areas.
Participants at rallies wave Russian flags along with flags that bear the “Z” symbol. This has been a powerful sign of support for invasion since it’s often painted on symbols.
Two banners reading ‘For a world without Nazism’ and ‘For Russia’ – each with the letter ‘Z’ picked out in bold – are seen above the stage as Vladimir Putin arrives to speak to the crowd
Putin is trying to get domestic support for his cause in Russia, after facing near total condemnation by other countries and isolation from even his allies
Russian flags are seen waving inside the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, alongside ‘Z’ banners supporting the war in Ukraine during a rally held by President Putin
Putin greets supporters as he finishes speaking at the pro-war rally that was held Friday afternoon. This rare appearance in public since the start of the fighting is reflected in his greetings to those present.
At Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, people wore Russian flags to commemorate eight years since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Putin is under intense international pressure for his disquiet and war at home and seems to be seeking to increase his support through mass rallies
Putin gives a speech at a concert to mark the 8th anniversary of Russia’s annexe of Crimea
However, thousands of people attending the concert appeared to be true Putin fans. Others claimed they were forced to attend or thought they were going to a concert by government employees.
It featured patriotic songs including “Made In the U.S.R.” with opening line: “Ukraine, Crimea, Belarus, and Moldova, it’s all my country.” Moscow police reported that 200,000 people attended the event, even though it has a capacity of only 81,000.
Putin compared himself to his opponent in an excerpt of the speech which was cut initially. But it was broadcast later on state TV. Russian admiral Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, who is famously the only Russian to have never lost a single battle in an apparent effort to brag about his successes in Ukraine that has become a bloodbath.
Putin stated that the timing of the launch of the special operations coincided with Fyodor Ushakov’s birthday. This remarkable military leader was a true inspiration to Putin. He never lost any battle throughout his long military career.
“He once stated that these thunderstorms would go to Russia’s glory.” It was so back then. As it continues to be today. So it will be forever.
During the reigns Catherinne, Pavel and Alexandr I, Ushakov was Russia’s supreme commander during his time.
The event was held after Russian airstrikes pounded the city of Lviv in the west of Ukraine this morning, with Russia strikes getting closer to NATO-member Poland in Putin’s bloody-minded invasion of his neighbour.
Andriy Sadovyi was the mayor of Lviv. He stated that Russian missiles had been launched from Black Sea. These were likely to be warships. The two facilities, which were both close by the airport’s bus station, were destroyed. There were no reports of injuries as the facility were already closed. He also said that there were four missiles coming in from the Black Sea.
Lviv is largely spared from the destruction caused by Russia to cities farther to the east. However, Lviv is being pulled into fighting while Putin’s advance slows down. His generals are now launching long-range strikes against cities to try to weaken defenses and terrorize civilians. In the wee hours, Kyiv was also hit.
Vladimir Putin used this speech to spread lies about Ukraine’s attack on him in 2014. He also repeated the lies about his current war, which he called a “special military operation”.
People view a live stream of Vladimir Putin’s address during the concert held in Moscow, Friday.
A banner bearing the letter Z, and reading ‘For Russia” was held by people during Friday’s pro-war rally at Moscow.
As crowds view a video of Vladimir Putin’s speech, banners proclaim ‘Russia’, ‘Donbass’ and ‘Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the Moscow World Cup stadium crowds on Friday
A choir of military personnel performs at a Moscow rally supporting Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine on Friday
Russian President Vladimir Putin appears on big screen during his speech at concert to mark the eighth anniversary the referendum on Crimea’s state status and Sevastopol’s reunification. It was held in Moscow (Russia), Friday, March 18, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a concert to mark the end of his invasion in Ukraine back in 2014.
Pictured: The celebration event hosts are wearing a Z on their jackets. Since Putin’s brutal invasion of Crimea, the ‘Z” has been a symbol for pro-Russian nationalism. It is found on many Moscow military vehicles.
Moscow’s made-for TV rally was intended to encourage support for Putin’s war on terror, which is internationally condemned
Russian President Vladimir Putin supporters hold flags as they cheer at a pro war rally held in Moscow.
Pictured: On Friday, crowds were seen outside of the Luzhniki stadium. Moscow police stated that over 200,000 people attended the Luzhniki stadium in support of the rally.
Russia’s invasion is currently in its third week, with Moscow suffering heavy losses. The US has warned that Putin may resort to nukes to stop the West from getting involved in the conflict. Putin won’t be able to depend on his conventional forces and will have to use them to defeat the West.
Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, director of the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency, told Congress yesterday: ‘As this war and its consequences slowly weaken Russian conventional strength, Russia likely will increasingly rely on its nuclear deterrent to signal the West and project strength to its internal and external audiences.’
Berrier stated that nuclear threats would be directed towards the West. However, Berrier also said that Russia is determined to intensify its attack on Ukraine. This was to force Kyiv into a Moscow-friendly peace agreement and not accept embarrassing compromises.
“Despite the greater resistance than was anticipated from Ukraine, and relative high losses during the initial stages of the conflict,” he stated.
Two Russian cruise missiles have sprayed smoke over Lviv in Western Ukraine. They struck the city on Friday morning. The attack destroyed an airport repair shop and damaged a bus garage.
As smoke rises above Lviv in Ukraine’s west, civilians and military personnel of Ukraine’s territorial defense force watch. This is after Russian cruise missile strike early Friday morning.
Ukrainian civilian injured in an airstrike by Russian flying glass, flees his apartment in Kyiv.
After being bombed by Russian troops in Kyiv, Ukrainian firefighters put out a fire at a Ukrainian warehouse.
In Kyiv, Rescuers assist at a location of buildings that were damaged during a Russian attack on Ukraine.
Ukrainian firefighters put out the flames in a warehouse following a bombing that occurred in Kyiv.
After it was struck by artillery shelling from the north, civilians see a storage building go up in flames.
In Kharkiv Ukraine, you can see a residential building that was damaged from the ongoing Russian attack on Ukraine.
Man and cat rescue a victim of shelling in Kyiv.
Lviv’s residents shared their shock over the Russian missile attack against their “safe haven” city. Residents of a nearby housing development described the shaking and rattled windows caused by the blast.
Anna Malchevska (25), a professional dancer, told MailOnline that she was awakened by four explosions. It was shaken and windows were moving. The clock must have struck 6 this morning.
“There was no warning. There was no air raid siren. It just went boom boom boom. “Then I looked out the window, and saw that there was an enormous plume black smoke.
Ira Melnyk is 60 and retired. “So I grabbed my dog when I heard the explosion and ran to the toilet, where it was safer.
“The buildings were shaking, and windows were rattled. It was horrible. It was horrible. It was quite scary.
After surviving bombing raids in Kharkiv, Father Andriy Moussiyiyev said that he now doesn’t take his children to the bomb shelter. MailOnline was told by him that he came from Kharkiv, where he lived for many days under bombs. When we arrived in Lviv, we thought that we had fled the war.
“But now, the war is everywhere. Our children are young and we do not go to shelter when the sirens sound. We were there when the bombs went off this morning. It happened at 6.10. It was 6.10. The children just wanted to return home to Kharkiv. We all want that.
Attacks on hospitals, schools, buildings, which provide refuge from bombardment, have occurred in every city of Ukraine.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of Mariupol’s theater for survivors. It had been used as a refuge during the Russian airstrike.
A local official stated that Russian artillery had destroyed a school in Merefa near Kharkiv and damaged a community centre.
Numerous bodies from the north city Chernihiv were taken to the morgue within a single day.
Moscow is increasingly turning to long-range and air strikes as a way to win the battle for supremacy, after Russia’s advance on ground has been thwarted by fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Pentagon estimates that Russia has fired more than 1,000 missiles on Ukrainian targets in the three-weeks since the conflict began.
The alarms of air raids were ringing again on Friday in various cities, including Odessa in Odessa and Kharkiv to the east.
The government of Ukraine has listed Kharkiv’s market and kindergarten as its latest targets.
Volodymyr Zelesky, Ukrainian President, acknowledged that the situation was difficult in many Ukrainian cities.
However, he stated, “we won’t leave you behind, and we will certainly not forgive them.” They will not leave you behind.
He has been begging for assistance from his allies to help him continue fighting the war, even though a flood of anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft weapons have flooded the country.
Slovakia indicated that it would be willing to supply the powerful Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft weapon system to Ukraine, provided it has a replacement from NATO allies.
Zelensky informed German legislators Wednesday that Russia is building a new ‘Berlin Wall,’ a line separating ‘freedom’ and ‘bondage’ in Europe.
He said, “And that wall is getting bigger with every bomb,”
This dividing line can be found approximately 15 km from Kyiv. Russian troops continue to try and surround Kyiv in an slow-moving offensive.
Wednesday saw journalists from AFP witness the Ukrainian-Russian forces trading shell and rocket fire in the northwest corner of the city.
As shelling set fire near a warehouse, civilians fled for safety.
As gunshots rang through the air, the carpark contained a Ukrainian soldier with a rifle.
A father carried his child, prone in his arms, into the nearby blocks of flats. At least five ambulances raced to the scene.
A view inside shows damage to a residence building from shelling. This is Kyiv’s response to Russia’s ongoing attack on Ukraine.
As Russia continues its attack on Ukraine, rescuers are working next to the damaged residential building.
Smoke rises from the ruins of a building in Sievierodonetsk, in the Ukrainian-held part of eastern Donetsk region, where fighting with Moscow-backed rebel forces is ongoing
View of the damaged hospital building from Russia’s invasion on Ukraine, taken in Sievierodonetsk
Fire broke out after a Russian missile struck a Kyiv residential building. Four people were hurt and one was killed.
Due to a downed rocket, a fire broke out at a Kyiv residence.
As Russia continues its attack against Ukraine, rescuers continue to work in Kharkiv on the remains of a residence building that was damaged by shelling.
As Russia continues its attack against Ukraine, rescuers continue to work in Kharkiv on the remains of a residence building that was damaged by shelling.
In Kyiv, destroyed cars can be seen within an area hit by shelling. This is Russia’s continued attack on Ukraine.
As Russia continues its attack against Ukraine, locals are seen walking next to damaged residential properties in Kyiv (Ukraine).
The residents of Kyiv (Ukraine) clean out their shell-damaged houses
The Black Sea town of Odessa was a place where civilians were preparing for battle. There were tanks stationed at key intersections as well as monuments that had been covered in sandbags.
Lyudmila, an elderly lady wearing bright lipstick and elegantly dressed in bright lipstick, said, “Our beautiful Odessa,” as she gazed apologetically at the empty streets of her city.
“But, thank you God we are still holding on!” Everybody is still holding on to their hope!
Antony Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States of America, stated Thursday that American officials are evaluating possible war crimes. He also said that Russia’s intentional targeting of civilians would have’massive’ consequences.
The United Nations political chief, Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, also called for an investigation into civilian casualties, reminding the U.N. Security Council that international humanitarian law bans direct attacks on civilians.
She stated that many attacks against Ukrainian cities are “indiscriminate” and use ‘explosive weapons with large impact areas. DiCarlo stated that the destruction in Mariupol, Kharkiv raised grave concerns about the fates of many millions of people living in Kyiv or other areas facing increasing attacks.
According to reports, many civilians fled Mariupol’s central area, taking refuge in a columned, grand theater. This theatre was damaged by the Russian airstrike on Wednesday. There had been no news of any deaths or conflicting reports as to whether anyone was rescued from the rubble. The city is inaccessible to communications and it’s difficult for people to move around because of the fighting.
Maxar Technologies satellite imagery Monday showed white letters written in large, bold letters outside the theater spelling out CHILDREN in Russian – DETI’ – to alert warplanes of vulnerable persons hiding within.
Official with The Mayor’s Office Petro Andrushchenko told The Associated Press that he hoped and believed some of those who remained in the shelter below the theater would survive. The basement shelter was a modern, bomb-resistant structure that the building housed. Other officials stated earlier that there had been some escape attempts.
The photos and video provided by the Ukrainian military revealed that at least three stories of the building were reduced to a shell without a roof, while some walls had collapsed.
As smoke rose over the city’s skyline, snow fell on the shreel-scarred buildings of apartment blocks that were windowless, burned and battered.
“We’re trying to survive,” said Mariupol’s resident Elena. “My child is starving.” I don’t know how to make him eat.
Her mother was 50 miles away and she had tried to contact her. ‘I can’t tell her I am alive, you understand. She said that there was no connection and she meant nothing.
A few cars were equipped with the Z symbol for the Russian invasion force on their windows.
Russia’s military has denied that it bombed the Mariupol theater on Wednesday.
Viacheslav Chaus, Chernihiv’s local governor, stated to Ukrainian TV that 53 people were taken to the morgue in Chernihiv over 24 hours. They had been killed by heavy Russian air raids and groundfire.
Firefighters and soldiers of Ukraine look for the victims in an abandoned building following a bombing in Kyiv.
A Territorial Defense Unit guards a defense position near Kyiv
Ukrainian soldiers cover themselves from artillery fire at Irpin (the outskirts Kyiv)
According to Ukraine’s emergency service, a father, mother and their three children were all killed in a Chernihiv bombing. Civilians were found hiding in basements or shelters all over the 280,000-strong city.
Chaus claimed that “The city has not experienced such nightmarish and colossal loss or destruction.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 43 incidents against health and hospital facilities that resulted in 12 deaths and 34 injuries.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke out early Friday to express gratitude to Joe Biden for the additional military assistance. However, he refused to go into details about the package because he doesn’t want Russia knowing what to expect. According to him, Russia was expecting Ukraine to be found much like it did in 2014. In 2014, Russia took Crimea and supported separatists who seized the eastern Donbas.
He said that Ukraine was stronger than anticipated and Russia didn’t know how to respond.
The foreign ministers of seven leading countries of the Group of Seven accused Putin of waging an “unprovoked, shameful war” and demanded that Russia comply with the International Court of Justice order stopping the attack and withdrawing its troops.
This week, both Russia and Ukraine reported progress in their negotiations. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, said that Thursday’s talks were progressing and some negotiators had entered working groups.
Zelenskyy stated that he wouldn’t reveal the tactics of Ukraine’s negotiation team.
Zelenskyy stated that he prefers working in silence to being on TV, radio, or Facebook. I believe it is the right way.
Although details about Thursday’s talks are not known, a Zelenskyy official told the AP that Wednesday’s main topic was whether Russian troops will remain in the separatist areas of eastern Ukraine following the war, and where would the boundaries be.
According to the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive discussions, Ukraine insists on including one or two Western nuclear power in the negotiation and legally binding security safeguards for Ukraine.
The official stated that Ukraine is open to discussing a neutral status for its military forces.
Russia demands that NATO never admit Ukraine to its alliance nor station any forces there. The fighting in Ukraine has caused more than 3 million to flee the country, according to U.N. estimates. Although the death toll is unknown, Ukraine claims that thousands of civilians died.