Some of the attendees at Vladimir Putin's huge 'pro-Russia rally' were forced to go by their employers, while others were offered a day off, it is claimed.
Putin made a rare public appearance at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium today as he told the flag-waving crowds that Russia would triumph in its invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian despot promised those in attendance that all of the Kremlin's aims would be achieved as the crowds chanted "Russia, Russia, Russia".
He said: "We know what we need to do, how to do it and at what cost. And we will absolutely accomplish all of our plans."
However, coverage of his speech on state television was unexpectedly interrupted by what the Kremlin said was a technical problem with a server.
And it now appears that at least some of the cheering crowds were not as enthusiastic about the rally as the images from Russian state TV suggested.
Speaking outside the stadium, BBC News Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg said: "We've spoken to quite a few people here who told us they were either forced to come here by their employers or promised the day off if they would come here."
Mr Rosenberg later wrote: "I spoke to dozens of those queueing to enter the venue for the pro-Kremlin rally.
"Many told the BBC they worked in the public sector, and that they had been pressured into attending by their employers.
"One man who works in the Moscow metro told us that he and other employees had been forced to attend the rally. 'I'll be here for a while and then I'll leave… I think most people here don't support the war. I don't,' he said."
Students in attendance were unaware they were going to a pro-war rally and said they were offered the day off from lectures if they watched 'a concert', the BBC reports.
However, there were some at the rally who clearly supported Putin and the war in Ukraine.
One woman told the BBC: "I'm a patriot, if our Government is fighting in Ukraine it must be necessary."
Men were filmed outside the stadium wearing clothes with the letter 'Z' emblazoned across them - a symbol that has become synonymous with Russian forces in Ukraine.
During his speech at the rally, Putin said the soldiers fighting in his so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine had demonstrated the unity of Russia.
"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 added.
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As he was talking, state television briefly cut away from his speech mid-sentence and showed earlier pre-recorded footage of patriotic songs, but he later appeared back on state television.
RIA news agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying a technical fault on a server was the reason state television had suddenly cut away from Putin.
It was not immediately clear why the server issue led to such an abrupt and unusual interruption.
