UPDATED: Putin hails Russia’s ‘special operation’ in Ukraine to thousands in packed stadium
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March 18 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed what Russia calls its special operation in Ukraine, appearing on stage at a rally at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Friday in front of thousands of people waving Russian flags.
People hold a banner with letter Z and saying ‘For Putin!’ during a concert marking the 8th anniversary of Crimea’s reunification with Russia at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, 18 March 2022. The letter Z, painted on Russian military vehicles in Ukraine, has quickly become a symbol of support of the ‘special military operation’ carried out by the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine. EPA-EFE/PAVEL BEDNYAKOV / SPUTNIK POOL
Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in an effort to degrade its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.
Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.
Russia’s defence ministry said on Friday that separatists in eastern Ukraine with help from Russia’s armed forces were “tightening the noose” around the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported.
The defence ministry added that fighting was ongoing in the centre of Mariupol.
Meanwhile, Ukraine hopes to evacuate civilians on Friday through nine humanitarian corridors from cities and towns on the front line of fighting with Russian forces, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.
Photo grab from video issued by Russian Ministry of Defence of Russian tanks in Ukraine.
