Technical Glitch: Kremlin Says After Putin Was Cut Mid-Speech By State TV On Crimea Anniversary

It was the biggest public appearance Vladimir Putin made since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, calling it a special military operation on February 24.

But the biggest talking point of Putin's speech marking eight years of the annexation of Crimea on Friday was how the state TV broadcasted it.

AFP

As he was talking, state television briefly cut away from his speech and showed earlier pre-recorded footage of patriotic songs, but he later appeared back on state television.

Putin was cut mid-sentence as he was saying: "It so happened that the beginning of the operation coincided by chance with the birthday of one of our outstanding military..."

Putin was speaking in front of a stadium of 100k paid supporters at Moscow's giant Luzhniki Stadium, when the feed cut out and started playing a concert by Oleg Gazmanov...

Really, really weird.

Was his speech pre-recorded? pic.twitter.com/ED799Glsyo

¡ª Jonny Tickle (@jonnytickle) March 18, 2022

While a Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed a technical fault on a server as the reason state television had suddenly cut away from Putin, it is unclear what exactly went wrong or even if it was a deliberate act.

AP

This comes days after Marina Ovsyannikova, a Russian journalist and Editor of the state-run Channel One caused international embarrassment to Russia by protesting on live TV against the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Ovsyannikova had interrupted a live news bulletin holding up a sign behind the studio presenter and shouting slogans denouncing the war in Ukraine.

Screengrab

"NO WAR. Stop the war. Don't believe propaganda. They are lying to you here." Another phrase, which looked like "Russians against war" the poster in her hand, written in both English and Russian read.

Ovsyannikova who has since resigned from Channel One had claimed that many more working with the state broadcaster is quitting or want to quit.

According to her some of her colleagues were unable to resign even if they wished.

Reuters

On Friday, Speaking on a stage at the centre of Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, Putin justified the invasion of Ukraine and that all of 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 said.

Dressed in a turtleneck and coat, Putin said the soldiers fighting in what Russia calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine had illustrated the unity of Russia.

Reuters

"Shoulder to shoulder, they help each other, support each other and when needed they shield each other from bullets with their bodies like brothers. Such unity we have not had for a long time," Putin said.

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