Putin hails Russia's fighters in Ukraine at rally 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

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin hailed Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine during a rally in Moscow on Wednesday, calling on the crowds to chant "Russia, Russia" to show their support for those he said were defending the fatherland.

Tens of thousands of people packed into Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, which has a capacity of 81,000, waving white, blue and red Russian flags and listening to patriotic songs before Putin arrived.