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Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered his State of the Nation address to Russia’s houses of parliament, the Federal Assembly, on Thursday.
The speech, made in front of around 1,000 lawmakers and officials, faith leaders, diplomats and journalists, covered a wide range of topics, from Russian foreign policy goals and the war in Ukraine to demographic issues, such as Russia’s low birth rate, and economic development.
As was the case last year, participants in Russia’s “special military operation” (code for war) in Ukraine were invited to the event — Putin’s 19th address of its kind — and were singled out for particular praise.
Putin’s speech comes less than a month before the presidential election on March 15-17 that he is expected to win given the lack of non-systemic opposition figures in Russia.
There was speculation that Putin could use his address to make an announcement about Transnistria, potentially even bolstering Russia’s small military presence in the separatist region of Moldova, after it asked Russia to “protect” it from Moldova’s authorities. Putin did not mention the region, however.
34 fighter-bombers, the latest successes it has reported against Moscow’s air force.
“After successful combat operations against an enemy aircraft in the night on Feb. 29, two more Russian aircraft were destroyed: Su-34 fighter-bombers in the Avdiivka and Mariupol sectors,” Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on the Telegram messaging app.
Russia, which began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, did not immediately comment on Syrskyi’s remarks. Reuters could not immediately verify his comments.
Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine fell to Russian forces this month after a long battle. Russia took full control of the southeastern port city of Mariupol in May 2022.
The Ukrainian military said last week that Russia had lost six warplanes in three days.
Since receiving advanced Western air defence systems, Ukraine’s military has posed a greater threat to Russian aviation in areas near the front lines although it has suffered recent setbacks on the eastern battlefields.
Kyiv accuses Moscow of hitting civilian targets using Su-34s, in particular in the southern Kherson region, as well as in attacking Ukraine’s front lines. Russia has denied deliberately targeting civilians although many have been killed in its strikes.
‘I bow deeply to you’: Putin closes speech with tribute to military personnel
Russian President Vladimir Putin closed his annual State of the Union address by praising Russia’s military personnel, saying they had proven their loyalty to Russia and should be central figures in non-military institutions.
“I’m looking at these courageous people, young boys, and I can say without exaggeration that my heart is full of pride for our people, our nation, and these particular people,” he said in the speech, which lasted over an hour.
“They will not stand back, they will not retreat, they will not let you down and they will betray you. Read more
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