Putin's New Year's Address to the Citizens of Russia

Machine translated from the Kremlin Website's transcript. Video in Russian is also available at the link:

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Citizens Russia! Dear friends!

The year 2022 is coming to an end. It's been a year. difficult, necessary decisions, the most important steps towards full sovereignty Russia and the powerful consolidation of our society.

It was a year that put a lot in its place, clearly separated courage and heroism from betrayal and cowardice, showed, that there is no higher strength than love for one's relatives and friends, loyalty to friends and comrades-in-arms, devotion to one's Fatherland.

It was a year of truly pivotal, fateful events. They have become the frontier that lays the foundation for our a common future, our true independence.

That's what we're fighting for today, defending. of our people in our own historical territories in the new subjects of the Russian Federation Federation. Together we build and create.

The main thing is the fate of Russia. Defense of the Motherland – it is our sacred duty to our ancestors and descendants. Moral, historical rightness is on our side.

The outgoing year brought great, cardinal change for our country and for the world. It was filled with excitement, anxieties and experiences.

But our multi-ethnic people like this was in all difficult eras of Russian history, showed courage and dignity, in word and deed he supported the defenders of the Fatherland, our soldiers and officers, all participants in a special military operation.

We have always known, and today again We are convinced that Russia's sovereign, independent and secure future depends only from us, from our strength and will.

Western elites have hypocritically assured for years. all of us in our peaceful intentions, including the resolution of the most difficult conflict in Donbas. In fact, they did their best to encourage neo-Nazis who continued to conduct military, openly terrorist actions against civilians citizens of the people's republics of Donbass.

The West lied about peace, and was preparing for aggression and today admits this no longer hesitates, openly, and they cynically use Ukraine and its people. to weaken and split Russia. We have never allowed anyone and will not allow anyone do it.

Russian military personnel, militiamen, volunteers are now fighting for their native land, for truth and justice, for the guarantees of peace and security for Russia to be reliably ensured. All they are our heroes. Them it's the hardest thing right now.

I cordially wish you a Happy New Year all participants in the special military operation, those who are now here, next to me, who are on the front lines and on the frontline lines, who are trained in training centers in order to then join the battle, who are in hospitals or, having fulfilled their duty, already returned home, all those who are on combat duty in the strategic units, all personnel of the Armed Forces!

Dear comrades, thank you for your valiant service! All our a huge country is proud of your fortitude, resilience and courage. Millions of people heart and soul with you, and at the New Year's table there will definitely be toasts in your honor.

Many thanks to everyone who provides military operations: drivers and railway workers who supply the front, doctors, paramedics, nurses and nurses who are fighting for the lives of soldiers, nurse wounded civilians. I thank the employees and engineers of our military and other factories that work today with full dedication, builders who erect civilian objects and defensive fortifications, help to restore the destroyed cities and villages of Donbass and Novorossiya.

Dear friends!

Since 2014, after the Crimean events, Russia lives under sanctions, but this year we were declared a real sanctions war. Those who started it expected the complete destruction of our industry, finance, transport.

That didn't happen because we're all together we created a reliable margin of safety. What we have done and are doing in this area is aimed at strengthening our sovereignty in the most important area – the economy. And our struggle for yourself, for your interests and for your future, of course, serves as an inspiration. an example for other states in their quest for a just multipolar world order.

I consider it very important that in the outgoing year such qualities as mercy have acquired special significance in our people. solidarity and active responsiveness. More and more citizens feel the need to help others. They unite themselves, without any formal Indications.

I want to thank you for your sensitivity and responsibility. and kind-heartedness, for the fact that you, people of different ages and incomes, are actively get involved in the common cause, organize warehouses and transport to deliver sending parcels to our fighters in the combat zone, to the affected residents of cities and towns, you send children from the new regions of the Federation to rest.

Great support to you, my dear, provide to the families of the dead fighters. They gave their lives defending their lives. other people.

I understand how difficult it is now, in the New Year's night, to their wives, sons, daughters, their parents who raised the real Heroes. We will do our best to help the families of our fallen comrades raise children, give them a decent education, get a profession.

With all my heart I share your pain and ask to accept sincere words of encouragement.

Dear friends!

At any time, even very difficult ones, our country celebrated the onset of the New Year. It was and remains for everyone. a favorite holiday and has a magical gift to reveal the best in people traits, multiply the importance of traditional, family values, energy generosity, generosity and trust.

Celebrating the New Year, everyone strives to please loved ones, to warm them with attention and warmth, to give what is about they dreamed, to see the delight in the eyes of children, to feel how touching parents and the older generation are grateful for our attention - they know how to appreciate these dawn of happiness.

Friends, now is the right moment, to leave in the past all personal grievances and misunderstandings, to say the most dear people about their tender feelings, about love, about how important it is to take care of about each other – always, at any time.

Let these heartfelt words and noble ones feelings will give all of us as much mental strength as possible, confidence that together we will overcome all difficulties and keep our country great and independent.

We will only go forward, win for the sake of for the sake of their families and for the sake of Russia, for the sake of the future of our only, beloved Motherland!

Happy New Year, dear friends! With the New, 2023!