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About 200,000 people have gathered in Moscow to hear Vladimir Putin speak at a pro-war rally ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Huge crowds assembled in the capital as the Russian president took to the stage at the “Glory to Defenders of the Fatherland” concert, held at the Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday.

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Mr Putin called on them to chant “Russia, Russia” in a show of support for those serving in the armed forces.

“They fight heroically, courageously, bravely. We are proud of them,” Mr Putin told his audience, who waved red, blue and white flags.

“Today, they are supported by the whole country,” he added.

Mr Putin said he had just been updated by military chiefs on the situation in Ukraine, telling the crowds: “When we are together, we have no equal.

“To the unity of the Russian people.”

Putin waves to crowds at the 'Glory to the Defenders of the Fatherland' concert Pic: AP
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Putin waves to crowds at the ‘Glory to the Defenders of the Fatherland’ concert. Pic: AP
Putin seen giving address on a hotel electronic billboard Pic: AP
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Putin seen giving his address on an electronic billboard covering the front of a hotel. Pic: AP
People at the concert pose with a flag depicting Vladimir Putin Pic: AP
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People at the concert pose with a flag depicting Vladimir Putin Pic: AP

His address was delivered on the eve of a holiday in Russia on Thursday to honour people serving in the armed forces.

In an earlier speech on Tuesday, Mr Putin blamed the West for starting the war in Ukraine as he suspended participation in a key nuclear treaty.

Putin arriving at the rally at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow
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Putin arriving at the rally at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a concert "Glory to the Defenders of the Fatherland" in support of the Russian armed forces involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine, at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia February 22, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer
People waving the Russian national flag at the Luzhniki Stadium Pic: AP
Image:
People waving the Russian national flag at the Luzhniki Stadium Pic: AP

Mr Putin said the West “released the genie from the bottle” in the decade prior to the war by starting other conflicts.

And he vowed Moscow would “continue to resolve the objectives” of what the Kremlin describes as a “special military operation”.

But US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart had made a “big mistake” by announcing he would suspend participation in the New START nuclear accord.

He said he would defend “every inch of NATO” at the Bucharest Nine summit in Warsaw.

Law enforcement officers providing security outside Luzhniki Stadium
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Law enforcement officers providing security outside Luzhniki Stadium

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Biden ‘the Cold War warrior’

“What is at stake is not just Ukraine, it is freedom,” Mr Biden said.

“Things have changed radically, we have to make sure we change them back.”

Russia’s invasion has left millions displaced, with more than 8,000 civilians recorded as killed in the conflict, according to the UN human rights office.

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Thousands more are thought to have been killed.

Meanwhile, recent bombing has destroyed 95 different educational institutions and damaged more than 1,000 – with schools told to teach students remotely in some parts of Ukraine from Wednesday, as fears grow of shelling ahead of the first anniversary of the war on Friday.

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Ukraine war: Russia launches drone strike on Kyiv – as commander ‘sacked for lying about war progress’

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Ukraine war: Russia launches drone strike on Kyiv - as commander 'sacked for lying about war progress'

Russia launched a large drone attack on Kyiv overnight, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning the attack shows his capital needs better air defences.

Ukraine’s air defence units shot down 50 of 73 Russian drones launched, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries as a result of the attacks.

Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs and around 460 attack drones in the past week.

Warning that Ukraine needs to improve its air defences, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “An air alert has been sounded almost daily across Ukraine this week”.

“Ukraine is not a testing ground for weapons. Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state.

“But Russia still continues its efforts to kill our people, spread fear and panic, and weaken us.”

Russia did not comment on the attack.

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It comes as Russian media reported that Colonel General Gennady Anashkin, the commander of the country’s southern military district, had been removed from his role over allegedly providing misleading reports about his troops’ progress.

While Russian forces have advanced at the fastest rate in Ukraine since the start of the invasion, forces have been much slower around Siversk and the eastern region of Donetsk.

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Russian war bloggers have long complained that units there are poorly supported and thrown into deadly battles for little tactical gain.

Russia’s ministry of defence has not commented on the reports.

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Russian forces capture ‘former British soldier’ fighting for Ukraine – reports

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Russian forces capture 'former British soldier' fighting for Ukraine - reports

Russian forces have reportedly captured a British man while he was fighting for Ukraine.

In a widely circulated video posted on Sunday, the man says his name is James Scott Rhys Anderson, aged 22.

He says he is a former British Army soldier who signed up to fight for Ukraine’s International Legion after his job.

He is dressed in army fatigues and speaks with an English accent as he says to camera: “I was in the British Army before, from 2019 to 2023, 22 Signal Regiment.”

He tells the camera he was “just a private”, “a signalman” in “One Signal Brigade, 22 Signal Regiment, 252 Squadron”.

“When I left… got fired from my job, I applied on the International Legion webpage. I had just lost everything. I just lost my job,” he said.

“My dad was away in prison, I see it on the TV,” he added, shaking his head. “It was a stupid idea.”

In a second video, he is shown with his hands tied and at one point, with tape over his eyes.

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He describes how he had travelled to Ukraine from Britain, saying: “I flew to Krakow, Poland, from London Luton. Bus from there to Medyka in Poland, on the Ukraine border.”

Russian state news agency Tass reported that a military source said a “UK mercenary” had been “taken prisoner in the Kursk area” of Russia.

The UK Foreign Office said it was “supporting the family of a British man following reports of his detention”.

The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment at this stage.

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Body of missing rabbi Zvi Kogan found in UAE – as Israeli PM says he was murdered in ‘antisemitic terror incident’

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Body of missing rabbi Zvi Kogan found in UAE - as Israeli PM says he was murdered in 'antisemitic terror incident'

The body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been found, Israel has said.

Zvi Kogan, the Chabad representative in the UAE, went missing on Thursday.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office on Sunday said the 28-year-old rabbi was murdered, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident”.

“The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death,” it said.

On Saturday, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad said it was investigating the disappearance as suspicions arose that he had been kidnapped.

The Emirati government gave no immediate acknowledgment that Mr Kogan had been found dead. Its interior ministry has described the rabbi as being “missing and out of contact”.

“Specialised authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report,” the interior ministry said.

Mr Kogan lived in the UAE with his wife Rivky, who is a US citizen. He ran a Kosher grocery store in Dubai, which has been the target of online protests by pro-Palestinian supporters.

The Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism, said Mr Kogan was last seen in Dubai.

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Israeli authorities reissued their recommendation against all non-essential travel to the UAE and said visitors currently there should minimise movement and remain in secure areas.

The rabbi’s disappearance comes as Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October.

While the Israeli statement on Mr Kogan did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have previously carried out kidnappings in the UAE.

The UAE diplomatically recognised Israel in 2020. Since then, synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners have been set up for the burgeoning Jewish community but the unrest in the Middle East has sparked deep anger in the country.

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