As the anniversary of the Russian offensive approaches, the Russian leadership is preparing its citizens for a long war. The Russians interviewed by trusted President Putin but hoped for peace.
20:25•Updated 20:33
MOSCOW Among the people who came to the patriotic concert organized at Luzhniki Stadium were a considerable number of public sector workers and workers from nearby factories.
Many had arrived by bus from the Moscow region surrounding Moscow.
Adequate participation had clearly not been left to chance.
The name of the event was “Glory to the defenders of the fatherland”.
It was pointless to expect any criticism here, president Vladimir Putin towards.
– He exudes a calming energy. He’s like a father, a daddy. We’ve all been on the verge of a nervous breakdown lately, but listening to him brings peace to the soul and confidence in tomorrow. That’s how I feel, a Muscovite Maria Yakovleva described the Russian president.
People were in a festive mood and there was a long weekend ahead, as Thursday and Friday are holidays. The 23rd is Defender of the Fatherland Day.
It has been celebrated in Russia since 1922, originally in honor of the founding of the Red Army.
– We are expecting great performances, a good atmosphere, because we are about to have a holiday, teacher Azaliya Stashuyeva said.
The purpose of the event was to raise the military patriotic spirit. Many citizens who came to hear the concert said they hope for peace as soon as possible.
– The mood is that it would end as soon as possible so that our soldiers and the soldiers of the other side could get back home, Stašueva said.
He also hoped for peace Max, who has friends from Bryansk on the front. He wished them all the best.
– It’s better to finish it quickly, by mutual agreement… Let’s sit down at the table, take some drinks, some läss as a ride boy, slap each other’s hands – and not go home, rest!
There is no peace in sight. In his policy speech to the parliament on Tuesday, the president Vladimir Putin showed no signs of changing direction.
At the stadium, Putin spoke for about four minutes.
– I just heard from the military leadership of our country that right now there is a battle going on on our historical borders for our people. That’s exactly what the brave fighters who are standing next to me do, they fight heroically, manfully, bravely, Putin spoke in the stadium, referring to the soldiers participating in the event.
Putin said that the entire Russian people are now the defenders of the motherland.
The spectacle held at the Luzhniki Stadium built the aesthetics of a country now at war, where new pop songs meet Soviet-era favorite tunes, the style of advertising videos and the imagery of the destruction of war.