Putin 'makes Nazi salute gesture' as he raises one hand at the opening of a sporting event in Russia… as his army slaughters thousands of people in Ukraine in the name of 'de-Nazification'

Vladimir Putin was accused today of making a “gesture reminiscent of a Nazi salute” as he opened the so-called Future Games in the Russian city of Kazan.

Independent news channel SOTA said: 'Putin opened the Future Games tournament in Kazan and raised his hand 'to the sun'.

But the dictator “reproduced a gesture reminiscent of a Nazi salute.”

He did this when he opened the games and said: 'Dear friends, thank you very much. Good luck.'

Warmonger Putin, 71, has been accused of a Hitler-like invasion of Ukraine, and agreements with the German war leader in oppressing his people and creating a Russian version of the Hitler Youth, indoctrinating young people in patriotism and military discipline.

Vladimir Putin was accused today of making a 'gesture reminiscent of a Nazi salute'

Putin opened the Future Games in the Russian city of Kazan

But Putin justifies his war against Ukraine by trying to crush the “nationalists,” whom he calls “Nazis,” despite the fact that Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is Jewish and related to several people killed in the Holocaust.

The Russian mission to the UN said as Putin's forces invaded Ukraine: 'The aim of this operation is to protect people who have suffered humiliation and genocide committed by the Kiev regime for eight years.

“To this end, we will seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, and bring to justice those who committed countless bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation.”

Putin insists that it was the Soviet Union that suffered most from the defeat of Nazism in World War II.

The bizarre 'salute' was during the inaugural Future Games – also known as Games of the Future – where Putin was seen alongside recently banned doping skater Kamila Valieva, 17, and former Russian football star Andrei Arshavin who played for Arsenal.

Putin was accompanied at the ceremony by the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Republika Srpska

Ukrainian anti-aircraft guns of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade Kholodny Yar equip weapons from their positions in the direction of Bakhmut

Russia invaded Ukraine almost two years ago

Putin was accompanied at the ceremony by the presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Republika Srpska.

'Sport should remain outside politics, on the contrary, it should unite people. There is no doubt this will be for the better,” he said.

The Kazan Games are billed as a “major sporting event that innovatively combines traditional and esports.”

It includes 21 innovative disciplines such as Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Hockey and Phygital MOBA.

The event involves 2,000 athletes from more than 100 countries and 270 multinational teams.

“We have always been committed to promoting sport and its high humanistic values,” Putin said.

“The Future Games are our gift to the global sports family. I am confident that the true spirit of sport will prevail at these Games.”

Today, Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, accused Russia of inflicting suffering on millions of civilians. causing serious and widespread human rights violations, destroying lives and livelihoods.”

So far, 14 million people in Ukraine have fled their homes since Russia invaded two years ago.