Russia annexed the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) from Ukraine last year, after it was proclaimed by Russian-backed paramilitaries in 2014, although this was widely considered illegal and referendums dismissed as a sham.

The Donetsk People's Republic and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia were also annexed last year, although like the LPR remain unrecognised by the vast majority of the international community.

Putin yesterday celebrated the one-year anniversary of the annexations, coming after the Russian Defence Ministry announced plans to conscript residents of the territories to fight in the wider war against Ukraine.

United Russia, of which Putin is considered de facto leader although he is not an official member, has launched its Za Sambo project to celebrate the 85^th anniversary of the sport, initially developed in the early 1920s by the Soviet Red Army to improve hand-to-hand combat abilities.

Regional coordinator of the project Valentina Kamaeva, All-Russian Sambo Federation vice-president Vyacheslav Zubkov and LPR Minister of Sports Oleg Shereneshev were among those who attended the Opening Ceremony of the sambo training hall in Luhansk.

The hall includes a large poster depicting Putin in a red sambo uniform.

Global sambo competitions have traditionally been dominated by Russia, although its and Belarus' athletes are competing as neutrals at International Sambo Federation events due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine boycotted last year's World Sambo Championships in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek because Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to compete.