VLADIMIR Putin took to the stage at a flop pro-war rally at this time after bribing crowds to attend with a fiver and sausages.
1000's have been bussed in for a weird live performance at Moscow's half-empty Luzhniki Stadium to mark one 12 months because the deluded dictator's shambolic invasion of Ukraine.
As Putin appeared on stage for simply two minutes, the Russian dictator advised the stadium: "We're happy with those that are combating in Ukraine to defend the fatherland."
The 70-year-old led the gang in chants of "Russia" after which swiftly exited the stage in what seemed to be a closely choreographed occasion.
And simply minutes later, 1000's have been seen streaming out of the stadium in a humiliating blow for Putin as a dwindling crowd continued watching performances and speeches inside.
The Russian chief held the rally to mark each one 12 months of his disastrous conflict and tomorrow's Defender of the Fatherland Day.
And the general public have been bribed to attend with a meagre £5.54, together with the promise of sizzling meals and free Russian flags to wave.
In keeping with reviews, volunteers arrange "camp kitchens" to let individuals pattern army rations.
Footage confirmed free sausages and buckwheat being dished out in small plastic bowls to Putin's patriotic supporters.
One authorities division compelled 70 per cent of its employees to attend the live performance, The Moscow Instances reviews.
A state worker mentioned: "To be sincere, I believe it’s absurd.
"We have now to go and there’s nothing we will do with it.
"The authorities are utilizing it as a propaganda device to indicate off within the eyes of Z-patriots and those that watch TV. I wouldn’t go to the occasion voluntarily."
Organisers have additionally desperately appealed to college college students to attend by telling them they "will probably be freed up from lessons for the entire day".
One other advert promised college credit and "free meals and presents" for college students.
One lady mentioned the Kremlin had mobilised 300,000 individuals for the rally.
Though the stadium, the place England have been knocked out of the World Cup by Croatia in 2018, solely has capability for 80,000.
"They are saying 200,000 ought to be right here," she mentioned.
The crowds have been ordered to not put on yellow or blue - the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
It comes a day after Putin accused the West of making an attempt to start out a "world" conflict and made a veiled nuclear risk as he rambled his manner by a deranged state-of-the-nation speech.
However the deal with suffered a mass blackout as Russian state TV channels have been reportedly hit with an enormous hack assault.
The net hyperlinks of important state channels that are a part of All-Russian State Tv and Radio Broadcasting Firm [VGTRK ] have been taken down as he spoke.
As a substitute of Putin's speech, a discover on display introduced "Mistake 500" and that "technical works" have been underway.
Jailed opposition chief Alexei Navalny’s workforce claimed Putin mentioned the web sites of Russian TV channels have been subjected to a DDoS assault throughout Putin's speech to the Federal Meeting.
Russian state TV is tightly managed and such interruptions are extremely uncommon.
However the chief's pro-war speech on the similar stadium final 12 months was additionally mysteriously minimize off as he was praising his troops amid rumours of planted stooges within the crowd.
He was minimize off mid-sentence as he was saying: "It so occurred that the start of the operation coincided by probability with the birthday of considered one of our excellent army..."
Round 10 minutes later, the Kremlin chief's speech was replayed from the begin to end earlier than he walked off stage.
The Kremlin claimed a technical glitch was behind the interrupted transmission of Putin's speech to to mark the eighth anniversary of Crimea's annexation.
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