Russian President Vladimir Putin held a huge rally today (18 March) to demonstrate support for his attack against Ukraine.
Thousands of people were seen waving Russian flags as they crammed into Moscow's Luzhniki World Cup stadium.
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Others held up flags with the 'Z' sign - a symbol that has become synonymous with national support of Putin's war.
As well as standing in favour of the conflict, the event was held to celebrate the eighth anniversary of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
ITN news editor Emma Burrows tweeted clips from the event while writing that 'Russia's Olympic champions' were brought out for the 'anniversary rally for Crimea’s annexation'.
She added that Russian singer Oleg Gazmanov sang the lyrics 'Navy, Air Force, Special Forces, vodka, caviar, Hermitage and missiles… I was made in the USRR!'
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"Many of the crowd seem to be born after collapse of Soviet Union," said Burrows. "Some seem a bit perplexed."
In Putin's speech, he discussed Russia and Crimea's 'shared destiny', stating: "This is how the people thought and that's what they were guided by when they had the referendum in Sevastopol.
"They want to share their historical destiny with their motherland Russia - let us congratulate them on this occasion, it is their occasion. Congratulations."
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He also continued to make unfounded claims of neo-Nazism in Ukraine, which he has repeated in an attempt to justify Russia's military action against the country.
"Sevastopol did the right thing when they put up a barrier to neo-Nazis and radicals, which is already happening on other territories," he said.
"[The] people of Danobas also disagreed with this, and straightaway they organised military operations against them."
Speaking on the war - which Putin described as a 'special operation' - he added: "The best confirmation is how our guys are fighting during this operation, shoulder to shoulder, helping each other.
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"When it is necessary, they cover each-other as if it was their own brother from bullets. We haven't had such unity in a long time."
At the end of his speech, Burrows offered a translation, saying it is 'oddly phrased' in Russian.
She wrote: "Putin quotes 18th C naval commander and says Ushakov ‘once said terrible storms just lead to the glory of Russia, so it was then, so it is today and so it will always be!’"
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
Featured Image Credit: Sky News