Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the country’s “special operation” in Ukraine at a rally marking the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea.

Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium, which hosted the World Cup final in 2018, was packed for the rally, with patriots songs, and crowds waving Russian flags and shouting: “Russia! Russia! Russia!”

Social media posts showed footage from the stadium and a sea of red, blue and white flags and banners, with one reading: “For Putin!”

President Putin gave a speech from a stage at the venue – after discussing Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine with his security council on Friday, RIA news agency cited the Kremlin as saying.

He told the cheering crowd: “We will implement all our plans,” insisting that the “main purpose” of the invasion of Ukraine is to “save people from suffering and genocide”.

He said Russian soldiers are fighting “shoulder to shoulder” in Ukraine, adding: “We haven’t had such unity in such a long time.”

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