"Returning to the Homeland" 'Landslide Victory' Putin Justifies Ukraine Invasion

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who secured his fifth term with an overwhelming vote share, justified the invasion by defining the occupied territories of Ukraine, including Donbas, as "returned territories" and part of "New Russia." He also revealed plans for a railway line running from Russia through the occupied Ukrainian territories to the Crimean Peninsula.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to BBC and The Guardian, President Putin made this speech on the 18th (local time) at a concert held in Moscow's Red Square to mark the 10th anniversary of the annexation of Crimea. This was his first speech in front of a crowd since the presidential election.

He stated, "The path for Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk) and Novorossiya (eastern and southern regions of Ukraine) to return to the motherland was more difficult and tragic, but we succeeded," emphasizing the legitimacy of the invasion (special military operation). He stressed that Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson in eastern and southern Ukraine, which Russia claims to have acquired as new territories through the special military operation, are currently Russian territory. However, Ukraine and the European Union (EU) do not recognize this.

President Putin also mentioned the ongoing railway construction process, saying that residents of these regions "expressed a desire to return home to their families." He explained, "I heard that the connection has been restored from Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia to Donetsk, Mariupol, and Berdyansk in southeastern Ukraine, which are under Russian control," and that further work will continue. He added, "We will enable trains to travel directly to Sevastopol, the port city in Crimea," emphasizing, "This will be an alternative route to Crimea. This is how we move forward together."

Regarding Crimea, which was forcibly annexed 10 years ago, President Putin claimed it is "our history, tradition, and pride," stating, "They have never been separated from Russia. This is what allowed Crimea to return to our common family." He recalled, "Ten years ago, here in Red Square on this very stage, I reminded everyone that Crimea is often called an unsinkable aircraft carrier," and emphasized, "It is appropriate to say that Crimea has returned home."

When President Putin concluded his speech with "All glory belongs to Russia," thousands of people responded by shouting "Russia!" The BBC reported, "In his Red Square speech, President Putin declared Donbas and other occupied territories as New Russia," adding, "Last Saturday marked the 10th anniversary of the Russian referendum on whether the Crimean Peninsula, invaded and occupied by Russian forces, should be integrated into Russia."

The event commemorating the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea was held the day after the presidential election and had the character of celebrating Putin's fifth term. In addition to President Putin, pro-Putin candidates who ran in this election, including Nikolai Haritonov (Russian Communist Party), Vladislav Davankov (New People Party), and Leonid Slutsky (Russian Liberal Democratic Party), also attended and sang the Russian national anthem. Davankov, who placed third, said, "I will always remember the pride I have in my homeland and president exactly 10 years ago."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.