Vladimir Putin made a New Year's address to citizens

Vladimir Putin recorded his address to the Russians while surrounded by the military, and not against the background of the Moscow Kremlin, as has been happening in recent years. The President's speech is already available for viewing on YouTube. Residents of Kamchatka were the first to see the speech of the head of the Russian Federation, where midnight had already come at 15:00 Moscow time.

According to Putin, last year Russia took difficult but necessary steps towards gaining sovereignty and "powerful consolidation" of society. The president also called 2022 the year of "turning, fateful" events.

"It was a year that put a lot in place, clearly separated courage and heroism from betrayal and cowardice, showed that there is no higher power than love for your family and friends, loyalty to friends and comrades, devotion to your fatherland," Putin said.

The President of the Russian Federation thanked the participants of the special operation and expressed confidence that Russia will overcome all difficulties.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti that the appeal was recorded at the headquarters of the Southern Military District (SE) in Rostov-on-Don. Putin's speech lasted nine minutes; and it became a record duration. Previously, a six-minute speech was considered the longest, in which the head of state congratulated the Russians on the onset of 2021.

Recall that on February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a special military operation in the Donbass. Demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as well as bringing to justice those who committed crimes against civilians of Donbass, including against citizens of the Russian Federation, were called the goals of the SMO.