The Russian President's address
These plans were conceived years ago. By encouraging international terrorist groups in the Caucasus, NATO moved its offensive infrastructure close to our borders. A major part of the strategy was to use indiscriminate Russophobia as a weapon, primarily in Ukraine to turn the country into a platform for anti-Russian attacks for decades. They forced the Ukrainian people into a war with Russia in 2014 by making them cannon fodder. Armed forces were used against civilians, and genocide, blockades, and terror against those who declined to recognize the Ukrainian state coup government were organized.
In response to Kiev's public refusal to settle the Donbass issue peacefully and the fact that the Kiev regime was announcing nuclear weapons possession, it became clear that a new offensive in Donbass there was an unavoidable outcome, which would be followed inevitably by an attack on the Crimea, that is, on Russia.
Hence, preemptive military action was the only option and was necessary in these circumstances. There has been no change to the main goal of this operation, which is to liberate the entire Donbass region.
Neo-Nazis have almost completely been driven out of 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 resulted in heavy losses if we had attacked them directly, which is why our units, along with those of the Donbass republics, are acting competently and systematically, using military equipment and saving lives, advancing step by step to eliminate the neo-Nazis, as well as helping the people forced into being hostages and human shields.
This special military operation involves professional military personnel who are serving under contract. Aside from them are volunteer units comprised of people of different ethnicities, professions, and ages who are true patriots. In defense of Russia and Donbass, they answered the call of their hearts.
In this regard, I have already instructed the Government and the Defence Ministry to determine the legal status of volunteers and personnel of Donetsk and Lugansk military units. As such, material, medical, and social benefits must be the same as those granted to Russian military professionals. Volunteer units and militias of the Donbass people must be supplied with military equipment and other supplies.