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Russia commemorated the Day of Defenders of the Motherland on February 23.

Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beside the Kremlin walls in Moscow together with the participants in the special military operations.

He paid a silent tribute to the memory of the defenders of the motherland who fell in the battlefields.

He made a congratulatory speech through videoconferencing that day,

He congratulated all the Russian citizens, veterans, service personnel and civilian workers on the occasion of the holiday and said that the day became a symbol of the people’s sincere love for the defenders of the motherland and their pride in those who laid down their lives for the motherland and those who fulfil their obligations sincerely while reliably defending national sovereignty and security.

The Russian service personnel of the present generation are carrying on the tradition of bravery and honour handed down by the predecessors with dignity and the representatives of all races of the country are heroically defending national interests shoulder to shoulder in today’s special military operations.

The tremendous strength of the army and multiracial community lies in the fact that they win victory by fighting for the common goals, he said, noting that he was convinced that they have done so for centuries and will do so forever.

Referring to the need to bolster up defence capabilities, he stated that it still remains as the absolute priority to develop the three nuclear elements that guarantee the security of the state and effectively ensure the strategic deterrence and equilibrium in the world.

He affirmed that Russia would qualitatively increase the potential of all the services and arms of its armed forces and enhance their combat readiness, mobility and capacity for action in the most difficult conditions.

Meanwhile, a ceremony took place to award state decorations to the participants in the special military operations.