'One Day Before 3 Years of the Ukraine War'... Putin Says "Protecting Russia is a Mission Entrusted by God"

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that protecting Russia is a mission entrusted by fate and God.

On the 23rd (local time), TASS reported that President Putin made these remarks at the 'Defender of the Fatherland Day' military medal awarding ceremony held at the Kremlin. He said, "If I may say so, fate made it so and God willed it," adding, "The glorious but difficult mission of defending Russia rests on our and your shoulders."

Russian President Vladimir Putin is awarding medals on the occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day. Photo by Yonhap News

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The day is the eve of the 3rd anniversary of Russia's 'special military operation' in Ukraine and is also a major national holiday in Russia, Defender of the Fatherland Day. On this day, President Putin awarded the Gold Star medal, the highest honor among the 'Hero of Russia' medals, to 11 military personnel including participants in the special military operation in Ukraine.

He expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you to you and all your comrades," and added, "Thanks to your efforts, the goals we set are being achieved." Among the decorated soldiers was Andrey Grigoriev, a volunteer from Yakutia, Siberia, who became a topic of discussion after videos showing his fierce close-quarters battles with Ukrainian forces were released.

In a video message released on the same day, President Putin emphasized, "(The soldiers fighting on the Ukrainian battlefield) are risking their lives with courage to firmly protect the homeland, national interests, and Russia's future." He also added, "I am grateful for the fighting spirit and determination toward victory of all soldiers participating in the special military operation."

President Putin also promised to strengthen the Russian military with modern weapons. He stated, "As an essential element to guarantee current and future sovereignty and security, we will continue to improve the combat capabilities and combat readiness of the army and navy."

Russia has designated this year, the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, as the Year of Defending the Fatherland. This decision is said to honor both the soldiers who fought for Russia in the past and those currently fighting in Ukraine.

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