At a major patriotic concert in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country is engaged in a struggle for its historic borders.
“Right now there is a battle going on at our historic lands, for our people. It is being led by the same brave fighters who stand here now, beside us. They are fighting heroically, bravely, bravely. We are proud of them and in their honor we should shout “hooray!” three times.” Putin said.
He ended his speech by saying, “When we are together, there is no one like us!”
Tens of thousands of people, including military personnel, attended the event at Luzhniki Stadium in honor of the “Defenders of the Fatherland”.
Footage of the concert published by Russian state-controlled broadcaster Channel One showed jubilant crowds waving Russian flags and chanting “Russia, Russia, Russia”.
The concert came after Moscow suspended its participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control deal with Washington this week.