The Russian President's address
This was a long-term plan devised by them. In the Caucasus, they encouraged terrorist groups to operate and moved NATO's offensive infrastructure closer to our borders. Through indiscriminate Russophobia, they cultivated antipathy to Russia for decades, primarily in Ukraine, which was used as an anti-Russia bridgehead. Ukrainians were turned into cannon fodder and forced into war with Russia in 2014. As a result of a state coup, they exploited the army to attack civilians and organised genocides, blockades, and terror against these people.
As a result of Kiev regime public refusal to settle the Donbass issue peacefully and its announcement that it wished to possess nuclear weapons, so a new offensive in Donbass was inevitable, as there had already been two before, that it would be inevitably followed by an attack on Russia's Crimea, that is, on Russia.
Hence, preemptive military action was the only option and was necessary in these circumstances. It remains the main objective of this operation to liberate the whole of Donbass.
Lugansk Peoples Republic has been liberated almost completely from the neo-Nazis. Donetsk Peoples Republic is still fighting. A series of permanent defences were developed over the previous eight years by the Kiev occupation regime. If we had attacked them in a head-on manner, we would have suffered heavy losses, which is why our units, along with those of the Donbass republics, are acting competently and systematically, using military equipment and saving lives, moving together to eliminate the neo-Nazis, as well as helping the people forced into being hostages and human shields.
During the special military operation, contract military personnel serve under contract. In support of them are volunteer units composed of people from diverse backgrounds, professions, and ages. Their hearts called them to defend Russia and Donbass.
The Government and the Defence Ministry are already under instructions to determine the legal status of volunteers and personnel of the military units of the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics. As such, material, medical, and social benefits must be the same as those granted to Russian military professionals. In order to provide military equipment to volunteer units and Donbass militia, special attention must be paid.