Vladimir Putin's motorcade was filmed speeding to the Kremlin before a major national address to the country on the anniversary of Ukrainian invasion.
The armoured vehicle was flanked by a police escort at around 1am local time as the Russian president made his way to Moscow ahead of a speech to country's federal assembly.
February 22 will mark the first anniversary since Russia declared two breakaway Ukrainian regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent states, which sparked Putin's order to invade two days later on February 24.
Putin is expected to deliver a speech to both houses of parliament, military commanders, soldiers and Russia's elite as he tries to strongarm his position as leader. The speech is set to start at 9am (GMT) in Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television: "At such a crucial and very complicated juncture in our development, our lives, everyone is waiting for a message in the hope of hearing an assessment of what is happening, an assessment of the special military operation."
The Kremlin has also said he will offer analysis on Russia's development following more sanctions from the West.
To mark the one-year anniversary of the Ukrainian war, a Russian parliament source told RIA Novosti that a rally of more than 200,000 people will be carried under the watchful eye of Putin. He is also planning a 'celebratory' concert at the Luzhniki Stadium.
On February 24, 2022, Putin made an official announcement of a "special military operation" seeking the "demilitarisation" and "denazification" of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, has previously said Russia is planning a major offensive to coincide with the anniversary on February 24.
Renikov told French media that the army has a stock of recruits they are saving up to roll across the border at the turn of this date.
Putin's future at the helm of Russian politics as been questioned after the 70-year-old had cancelled national addresses in September and December, with many speculating over his health.
In recent months, Putin twitched his feet a lot and appeared to have spasms and tremors - typical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which he has been rumoured to have been diagnosed with.
He also withdrew from an appearance at a ice hockey match in December, which he established in 2011 where he plays alongside former NHL stars and has become an annual fixture in the Russian calendar.
