PUTIN’S SPEECH INTERRUPTION DUE TO TECHNICAL GLITCH, KREMLIN SAYS

Fri 18 March 2022:

The Kremlin has blamed a technical issue for the interruption of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech to a packed Moscow stadium commemorating Crimea’s annexation on the eighth anniversary of its annexation.

During Putin’s speech on Friday, Russian state media abruptly switched away from Putin’s praise of Russia’s “special operation” in Ukraine and the bravery of its forces to show patriotic songs being played at the occasion.

It later aired the full speech, which ended a few seconds after the cutaway with Putin leaving the stage as thousands of spectators waved Russian flags at the 80,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium.

Moscow police said more than 200,000 people were in and around the stadium for the rally, some of whom chanted “Russia, Russia, Russia” at times.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, cited by RIA news agency, said a server glitch caused the interruption.

Transmission of Putin’s speech suddenly cuts. Funny business with Russian TV. Kremlin can’t help itself. pic.twitter.com/VrT9SMOonO

— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 18, 2022

Russian state television cut off Putin speech before he limps off the stage pic.twitter.com/IUITBKyNsx

— Wittgenstein (@backtolife_2022) March 18, 2022

The Russian president gave a speech to 140,000 Russians in the Russian capital 18-03-22
And demonstrations in Moscow and in St. Petersburg in support of the Russian operation To disarm chemical weapons of mass destruction from the Ukrainian army#Putin #Russia #ukranie pic.twitter.com/s2hGr9VcfE

— Anton (@Yari04682543) March 18, 2022

Putin told the tens of thousands of people that Russians “have not had unity like this for a long time”.

“We know what we need to do, how to do it and at what cost. And we will absolutely accomplish all of our plans,” Putin, 69, told the rally.

It was a rare public appearance by Putin who addressed the crowd from a stage, wearing a white turtleneck and blue down jacket.

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 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.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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