swastika

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday March 22, 2022

Putin holds rally in Moscow, praises Russian troops as Ukraine fights back invasion

Russian President Vladimir Putin used a rally before a packed soccer stadium on Friday to justify the invasion of Ukraine, promising tens of thousands of people waving Russian flags that all the Kremlin’s aims would be achieved.

“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 told a rally at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in an invasion on Feb. 24. 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.

Putin, who recently condemned what he called “scum” and “traitors” in Russia, said the soldiers fighting in what Russia calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine had illustrated the unity of his country.