Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the Luzhniki Stadium at a concert dedicated to Defender of the Fatherland Day and the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukrainecalling for unity and noting that now every resident of the country is a defender of the fatherland, the BBC Russian service quoted him as saying.
“We are gathered here actually for a celebratory event, but I know that just a moment ago I heard from the country’s top military leadership that a battle is currently being fought on our historic bordersfor our people,” Vladimir Putin said from the stage of a rally-concert at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
According to Putin, the words “defender of the fatherland” have a powerful mystical and sacred meaning.
The concert in Luzhniki was attended by soldiers who returned from Ukraine with wounds and disabilities.
“Today they are supported by the entire country, which means that anyone who does this is to some extent a defender of the Motherland,” the president said.
According to Putin, Russian children who write letters in support of the military are also defenders of the Motherland.
“Today, defending our interests, defending our people, defending our culture, language, territory, all our people are defenders of the Motherland. Low bow to all!” – said Vladimir Putin
It reports, it seems about 200 thousand people are present at the stadiumbut this is according to the organizers.
In various “Telegram” channels, messages are spreading that the audience of today’s concert is promised 500 rubles (12 BGN) each for presence in the stands. Students are exempted from classes, the poor are promised free food packages.
The newspaper Moscow Times writes, citing its sources, that about 70% of civil servants from Moscow and the Moscow region will be brought to the concert.
We recall that on Tuesday the Russian president delivered his annual message to the Federal Assembly, during which he announced the suspension of Russia’s participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and thus opened the door to a new arms race.
In just two days, it will be one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and at this stage the campaign is not going according to expectations for Russia and its military cannot boast of significant military successes.
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