Vladimir Putin: We'll definitely carry out all the plans we have made

Eight years after Russian troops seized Ukraine's southern region of Crimea, the event is being celebrated with flag-waving crowds in Moscow's Luzhniki stadium and special lessons in schools.

According to the BBC, President Vladimir Putin made a special appearance before the crowd.

State workers said they had been told to take part. In schools, teachers held lessons marking the "Crimean spring".

The Russian president told the crowd: "We know what we have to do next... we'll definitely carry out all the plans we have made."