Putin praises Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine as ‘main heroes’

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised soldiers fighting in Moscow’s war in Ukraine on the eve of its third anniversary.

In a special message released on Sunday, Putin said Russian troops were “the main heroes of Defender of the Fatherland Day,” a reference to the Russian public holiday that honours the achievements of the country’s military forces.

“Special words of congratulations to our soldiers and officers, participants of the special military operation. Today, risking their lives and showing courage, they resolutely defend their native land, national interests, and the future of Russia,” Putin said in his video.

Russia has consistently referred to its war in Ukraine as a “special military operation” since it started on 24 February 2022, having made terms like “war” illegal and subject to arrest and prosecution in a further crackdown against its opposition and human rights activists.

“It is you who are the main heroes of Defender of the Fatherland Day, which our entire country celebrates,” he added.

Putin also used his holiday message to pledge greater support for military personnel and new weapons and equipment for Russian forces.

“Today, as the world is changing impetuously, our strategic course for strengthening and developing the armed forces remains unchanged,” he said.

“We will continue to build up the combat potential of the army and navy, and their combat effectiveness as the essential part of Russia’s security that guarantees its sovereign present and future, and its consistent development.”

Putin also presented medals to soldiers who have fought in Ukraine, saying they were fighting for the “peace and future of our people”.

Defender of the Fatherland Day is a former Soviet holiday also celebrated in Turkmenistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan and was first marked in Russia in 1919. Ukraine used to observe the day but abolished the holiday in 1992.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched partly from Russian territory and partly from Belarus.

Accurate casualty numbers are not available, but in September last year, the Wall Street Journal estimated that 250,000 people had been killed in Ukraine and 800,000 others wounded.

Almost 4 million people have been internally displaced inside Ukraine, and more than 6 million refugees have been recorded globally.

Early 2022 was not the first time Russia had invaded its western neighbour.

In 2014, the Kremlin illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula and started an armed aggression in the eastern Ukrainian region of the Donbas that grew into a long-running conflict that left thousands dead.