Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated Russia Day national holiday on Monday by praising the country’s patriotic tradition as a way of supporting soldiers fighting in Ukraine.
“This holiday marks the inseparability of ancient history, the greatness and glory of the motherland; it affirms the unity of the multinational people, the devotion to their country; a warm and sincere attitude towards their beloved motherland,” Putin said during a award ceremony.
“Such intense feelings … at a difficult moment for Russia, they unite our society even more, serve as a reliable support for our heroes, the participants of the special military operation,” added the Russian leader, using the official terminology to the conflict in Ukraine.
The holiday comes as Ukraine’s offensive operations against Russian forces occupying about 20% of the country intensify.
Ukrainian authorities in recent days have claimed to have regained control of some villages and claimed advances in some points along the frontline, but Moscow insists all attacks by Kiev-led forces have been repelled.
On Monday, Putin said he was shocked by an alleged Ukrainian attack on civilian areas during the counter-offensive.
“I cannot understand at all why the enemy is attacking residential areas. For what? Why? These are clearly humanitarian facilities. What is the purpose of this? There are no military posts there,” Putin noted.
According to the Kremlin, the Russian president also visited wounded soldiers in Ukraine this Monday and presented some with awards, in a rare interaction with soldiers involved in the invasion of the neighboring country.
However, the Kremlin did not immediately release images of this trip to Vishnevsky Hospital in Krasnogorsk, on the outskirts of Moscow.
“Vladimir Putin presented awards to military personnel and spoke with them,” the Kremlin said in a brief statement.
According to the state news agency Tass, Putin was accompanied by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Russia Day marks Russia’s declaration of sovereignty in 1990 when it was still part of the Soviet Union.
As part of that statement, Russia ruled that its own laws took precedence over Soviet law, in a decision that is seen as the beginning of constitutional reform in Russia, which gained independence with the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14.7 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than 8.2 million to European countries – according to the latest data from the UN, which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and Russia political and economic sanctions.
Source: DN
