US film star and pal of Vladimir Putin Steven Seagal plays concert in Crimea

Hollywood tough guy and musician Steven Seagal played a weekend concert in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, appearing on a stage adorned with the flag of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

Seagal, who is a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, played late on Saturday with his blues band at a bikers' show held in the city of Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea fleet.

The martial artist has come under fire for supporting Russia's March annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine, a view which saw him bounced from the line-up at an Estonian blues festival this summer.

At the corner of the stage hung the black, blue and red flag of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), declared independent by pro-Russian rebels fighting to break away from Ukraine.

Fans waved Russian and DNR flags as Seagal sang and played his guitar.

The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea and for allegedly providing weapons and support to the rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Seagal said he had travelled to Crimea because music united people, Russia's RIA-Novosti news agency reported.