Russia’s troops fighting at the front in the conflict with Ukraine are heroes, President Vladimir Putin declared in his annual New Year’s address on Sunday. He noted that the nation achieved a great deal in the past year, adding that it was particularly strong in defense of its interests and values.
Russian troops defended against the much-hyped Ukrainian counteroffensive in the second half of 2023. The push, which lasted around six months, ended as a major failure for Kiev, with barely any changes registered along the front lines. It also led to heavy Ukrainian losses both in personnel and equipment, including Western-made heavy armor and weapons, according to Moscow’s estimates.
The effectiveness of the Russian Army’s tactics was recognized by Kiev’s backers, including the US, which has acknowledged that no Western-made weapon alone could be a game changer in the conflict.
“You are our heroes,” Putin said on Sunday, addressing the armed forces, adding that the nation is proud of its troops, who should feel assured of the “sincere support of millions of Russian citizens, of the whole nation.”
Putin listed “solidarity, compassion and resilience” as “key features” of the Russian people. The country has been “steadfast in defending our national interests, our freedom and security, our values that have always been and remain our unshakeable pillar.”
The Kremlin had denied reports that the president’s address was being altered following a Ukrainian strike on the Russian city of Belgorod. “It is not true,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Sunday. The Ukrainian attack on Saturday claimed the lives of 24 people, including children, and left more than 100 injured.
Russian media also reported that Putin had already exchanged New Year’s greetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Russian leader traditionally sends holiday greetings to current and former foreign leaders in December. Last week, the Kremlin revealed who was and was not on the president’s list – there were no greetings for the leaders of ‘unfriendly nations’, Peskov said.