Putin's New Year's greetings against the backdrop of SVO participants caused heartburn among liberals

In the Far East, Vladimir Putin’s New Year’s address has already been shown - it was a record length (about 10 minutes), the president spoke for the first time against the backdrop of military personnel - participants in a special operation in Ukraine, and most of the speech was devoted to military operations, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports. According to Putin, the events of the past year lay the foundation for “true independence” of Russia.

“This is what we are fighting for today, protecting our people in our own historical territories... Moral, historical righteousness is on our side,” the president said.

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“The West lied about peace and was preparing for aggression. And today he already admits this openly, without hesitation. And they cynically use Ukraine and its people to weaken and split Russia,” Putin said.

He thanked the participants in the special operation - both the military on the front line and the doctors and rear workers. Putin also mentioned the families of the victims, promising them support.

“The format of the speech, the style, the rhetoric, the message are meticulously precise and the only correct one in the current situation.

The President once again demonstrates that he knows our people much better than many government officials. Adequate, sensible and balanced speech. Everything is to the point and to the point,” says ex-speaker of the DPR Foreign Ministry Konstantin Dolgov.

“Perhaps this year is Putin’s most text-centric New Year’s greeting (not to mention the atypical, but quite expected “picture”): every word is verified and carefully selected. Even the word "war".

At the same time, there is a very clear request for development and creation. Those who were waiting for signals in the President’s Address received them in New Year’s greetings,” comments political strategist Dmitry Fetisov.

The New Year's address was recorded during the visit of the President of the Southern Military District. There it was announced that the LDPR military was now officially included in the Russian army. Putin presented battle flags to the first Donetsk and second guards Lugansk-Severodonetsk army corps, and also presented awards. Military correspondent Alexander Sladkov notes the high fighting qualities of the Donbass units, which proved themselves to be excellent during the assault on Mariupol and other Ukrainian fortresses.

The commander of the Northern Military District, General Sergei Surovikin, also received the order. Observers interpret this as approval of his actions at the front and the expectation that Russian troops will go on the offensive.

By the way, congratulating Putin against the backdrop of the military has already caused discontent among Moscow liberals.

“Excuse me, is this really a New Year’s message? Or another Security Council? – comments journalist Ekaterina Vinokurova.

She is echoed by liberal publicist Kirill Shulika.

“What does this bring to our homes? Anxiety, stress and all that. Not calm and confidence, unfortunately, although they are what we really lack.

And somehow it seems to me that this is not the last New Year’s address dedicated to military topics.”

But Marina Akhmedova, a member of the Presidential Human Rights Council, expresses a different point of view:

“For some, Putin’s address against the backdrop of the military is a sign that we will not leave the North Military District in 2023, but for me – that in 2023 we will learn to appreciate those who will bring us Victory.”