Russian President's Address
The plans were devised years ago. Our borders were close to NATO's offensive infrastructure after they encouraged groups of international terrorists in the Caucasus. Among other things, they nurtured the hatred of Russia for decades, primarily in Ukraine, which they viewed as a bridgehead against Russia. The Ukrainian people were used for cannon fodder and pushed into the 2014 war with Russia. In Ukraine, a state coup led to the creation of a government that used the army against civilians and organised genocide, blockades, and terror against those who refused to recognize it.
As a result of Kiev regime public refusal to settle the Donbass issue peacefully and its announcement that it wished to possess nuclear weapons, it became clear that a new offensive in Donbass, where there were two before, was inevitable, which would be followed by an attack on Russia's Crimea, that is, on Russia.
Therefore, launching a preemptive military operation was the only option. As always, the main objective of this operation is to liberate all of Donbass.
It has been almost completely liberated from the neo-Nazis in the Lugansk Peoples Republic. The Donetsk Peoples Republic is still in the midst of fighting. The Kiev occupation regime had built up a long line of permanent defenses over the last eight years. It would have been devastating to attack them head-on, which is why our units, as well as those in Donbass, are acting competently and systematically, using military equipment and saving lives, making progress steadily to defeat the neo-Nazis, and help those the Kiev regime converted into hostages and human shields.
In the special military operation, professional military personnel are serving under contract. Volunteer units of different ethnicities, professions, and ages are fighting alongside them. Their hearts' call to defend Russia and Donbass spurred them to action.
It has already been instructed that the Government and Defence Ministry determine the legal status of the volunteers and personnel of the military units of the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics. Including material, medical, and social benefits, it must be equivalent to that of Russian military professionals. For volunteer units and Donbass peoples militias, it is critical to organize the supply of military and other equipment.