Russian Night Wolves bilker-gang leader Aleksandr Zaldostanov (aka "The Surgeon") with Oleg Tsaryov, a former Party of Regions Deputy who now is a leader in the self-proclaimed Novorossia.
TASS Russian news agency reports 20,000 have turned out for today's march.
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Yanukovych on defending rights
As reported earlier, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is expected to speak at today's "anti-Maidan" rally. He apparently recorded an interview earlier with Russian state TV that is expected to air today.
"I had many sleepless nights," he says in the interview. "If the Lord God gives me the chance to do what's necessary today for the people so that I can defend their rights, defend them from the excesses and the lawlessness that exists in [Ukraine] today, I will do everything in my power."
The comments will likely infuriate many Ukrainians, who hold Yanukovych directly responsible for the bloodshed near Kyiv's Indepdence Square one year ago that left more than 100 protesters (and 17 police officials) dead.
The sign reads "Putinism forever." It's ironic timing given that yesterday Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused the "author of Putinism," Vladislav Surkov, with directing the massacre on the Maidan.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed the claim as "nonsense."
Our Russian Service is also covering a small counter-protest of about 30 people. Passersby, are apparently not particularly pleased with them.
An update on today's events from our news desk
Thousands of people are rallying in central Moscow to mark the first anniversary of what they view as a "coup" in neighboring Ukraine.
The pro-Kremlin march is being held under the slogan "A Year Since Maidan. We won't forget! We won't forgive!"
Maidan refers to Kyiv’s pro-EU protests in February 2014 that led to the ouster of Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovych, who has since fled to Russia.
Moscow’s "Anti-Maidan" demonstration was promoted in Russia's state media, with Rossiya 24 television channel saying in its broadcasts: "Come, if you like your country!"
Some participants in military fatigues had a placard reading "Maidan is an illness - we're going to cure it!"
A group wearing matching green jacket with the face of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was carry a banner that reads: "We don't need Western ideology and gay-parades!"
Yanukovych is expected to address the rally.
Speaking to Russian state television, he said that "no regime is worth the losses Ukraine has suffered” following his ouster.
He also listed tasks facing the Kyiv government.
"Stop a war, stop insulting residents of the country's southeast, stop labelling people," he said, "give guarantees that self-rule will be sufficient for these regions to protect their rights."
"European countries and Russia must take part in this process," he added.
The anti- Yanukovych revolt was triggered by a sudden U-turn that ditched a wide-ranging Association Agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.
According to RIA Novosti, official police estimates put crowd turnout at 35,000. In the past, officials have seemed to under-estimate turnout for opposition protests and over-estimate pro-government rallies.
"Our dean ordered it"
TV Rain's reporter speaking to Moscow demonstrators conducts a pretty entertaining interview. Some bites
Dozhd:Are you activists of Young Guard?
-No.
-They just gave us flags.
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Dozhd: Why did you decide to come here?
-Our dean ordered it.
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Dozhd: Who's in the photos on your poster? (the poster says, "Thieves should sit in prison" and features Aleksei Navalny and his associate, Vladimir Ashurkov)
-Looks like Navalny and the second, I don't know.