Putin says 'Stopping Ukraine's genocide in Donbass was special military operation's goal'

In a rare public speech, Russian President Vlimir Putin dressed supporters at  Luzhniki Stium on Friday where he justified Russia's military offensive in Ukraine. Speaking to crowd in Moscow, Putin marked 8th anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and asserted that stopping Ukraine's' genocide' in Donbass region was real aim of 'special operation' in Ukraine. 

“We know what we should do now and how we should do it and we will implement all our plans,” he said. Hailing Moscow's 'special operation' in Ukraine, leer asserted that move was aimed to set Donbass region east of country free from 'genocide'.

"People of Donbass did not agree with 2014 coup in Kyiv and were immediately hit with punitive military operations", Putin claimed. 

"A blocke was immediately put in place against se people. y were subjected to systematic shelling, airstrikes. This is what is called genocide," he was quoted as saying by state-owned news agency Sputnik. 

"This really was genocide. Stopping that was goal of special operation," he ded. 

crowd at Stium was heard chanting “Russia! Russia! Russia!” during dress. Banners on stage and in crowds were seen displaying letter "Z", which has become a symbol of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, often spotted atop several of its military tanks.

Ukraine preparing for a massacre in Donbass: Putin

This is not first time that Russian President has accused Ukraine of unleashing a 'genocide' in Donbass. On Wednesday, Putin claimed that Ukraine was "purposefully preparing for a massacre and an ethnic cleansing" in Donbass. 

"Encouraged by US and or Western countries, Ukraine was purposefully preparing for a massacre & an ethnic cleansing in Donbass. A massive onslaught on Donbass and n Crimea was simply a matter of time. se plans were shattered by our Armed Forces," Putin was quoted by MFA Russia as saying.

"In Kyiv, y were not only preparing for war, for aggression against Russia, against Donbass, but y were also waging it. Attempts to organise sabotage and terrorist underground did not stop. In recent years, hostilities have continued in Donbass, with shelling of peaceful settlements. During this time, almost 14,000 civilians died, including children," Russia Today quoted Putin as saying.