Putin ominously cut-off mid-speech by state broadcaster during latest rant

Authored by metro.co.uk and submitted by BoopSquad
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Vladimir Putin has been cut off during an address to a huge rally in Russia on the eighth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea.

The Russian President was mid-sentence when a state broadcast cut to patriotic songs – prompting confusion among audiences.

He was speaking in front of 100,000 supporters at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium when the feed unexpectedly cut out and began playing a concert by singer and composer Oleg Gazmanov.

Mr Putin hailed the ‘special operation’ in Ukraine as a ‘success’ – despite facing international condemnation over his invasion and being branded a ‘war criminal’ by US President Joe Biden.

A woman translating his speech could be heard saying: ‘The beginning of the operation coincided by accident with the birthday of one of our military leaders…’ before the feed cut out.

She then translated: ‘Forward Russia, forward Russia. Russia forward.’

Thousands waving flags emblazoned with the white ‘Z’ symbol – a sign of pro-Russian nationalism since the war began on February 24 – packed into the Russian capital’s World Cup stadium to hear Mr Putin speak.

However, footage shared online showed some spectators booing, amid suggestions people had been paid 500 Roubles – currently worth less than £3.50 – to attend the event.

Vladimir Putin, addressing crowds in Moscow, hailed the ‘special operation’ in Ukraine as a success

Putin addressed crowds on the eighth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea (Picture: AP)

Folks in Russia were paid 500 rubles to show up to a Pro-War rally. A vast majority left as soon as they had proof they showed up – so they could get paid.

Learn a lesson from Trump’s rallies, Vlad – only pay AFTER, if at all. — J.C. Young (@WriterJCYoung) March 18, 2022

Here’s the un-broadcast ending to Putin’s speech. pic.twitter.com/f9KuwlzMbP — Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 18, 2022

‘We are united by the same destiny,’ Mr Putin said of the people of Russia and Crimea.

He claimed the people of Crimea want to ‘share their historical destiny with their motherland Russia’, telling the crowds: ‘Let us congratulate them on this occasion, it is their occasion.

‘Congratulations,’ he said, as the crowd responded with huge cheers.

Fans could be heard roaring ‘Russia, Russia, Russia,’ during one part of his speech.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on a big screen as he delivers his speech (Picture: AP)

One brave journalist who risked everything to stage a dramatic anti-war protest on Russian television claimed citizens have been ‘zombified’ by their leader.

Mr Putin delivered his address as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian people flee their homeland in the wake of his invasion.

He spoke as besieged cities are bombarded with airstrikes including Mariupol where at least 1,300 people remain trapped inside a theatre.

The bloodshed has prompted Ukraine’s former Prime Minister, Oleksiy Honcharuk, to sign up for the territorial army to defend his country.

Metro.co.uk has exclusively revealed how ‘desperate’ Mr Putin is trying to ‘bomb civilians into submission’ after the invasion of Ukraine failed to go according to plan.

Moscow has repeatedly insisted it has not targeted civilians.

But United Nations political chief, undersecretary-general Rosemary DiCarlo, has called for an investigation into civilian casualties.

A map showing the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Picture: Metro Graphics)

And the US has warned there will be ‘massive consequences’ for abuses in Ukraine.

The speech in Moscow came on the same day broadcasting watchdog Ofcom decided to revoke the licence of Russia Today (RT) – as the invasion triggers a ‘significant digital shift’ for Russia.

The war in Ukraine was dubbed ‘like Afghanistan, but even worse’ on Russian state TV – sparking speculation Mr Putin could be losing his grip.

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DJTrav on March 18th, 2022 at 16:57 UTC »

For those looking for when it cut him off: https://youtu.be/l4UMTyalrK8?t=2326

Affectionate_Roof361 on March 18th, 2022 at 15:25 UTC »

Seeing him speak on the stadium reminded me of Ceausesc in 1989 in Romania, soon after that, he met his end . All these dictators have fooled themselves that the people actually love him

Bliitzthefox on March 18th, 2022 at 14:00 UTC »

I feel like this speech was planned and written before the war began.