President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called Russia’s military the guarantor of national stability, pledging to boost weapons production nearly a year after the start of the Ukraine offensive.
“A modern, efficient army and navy are a guarantee of the country’s security and sovereignty, a guarantee of stable development and the future,” Putin said in a video address during the annual “Defender of the Fatherland Day” holiday in Russia, which today falls the day before the anniversary the first of Moscow’s attacks on Ukraine.
“Therefore, as before, we will give priority to strengthening our defense capabilities,” he said.
Putin on new drones and artillery systems
Putin said Russia will “carry out a balanced and high-quality development of all components of the armed forces” especially by equipping the forces with “new attack systems, reconnaissance and communication equipment, drones and artillery systems”.
“Now our industry is rapidly increasing the production of various conventional weapons,” he said in a video released by the Kremlin.
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The president also praised the Russian soldiers, who fought “heroically” in Ukraine and “defended our people on our historic land”.
“The unbreakable unity of Russia is the key to our victory,” he said.
Russia’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine
Later in the day, state TV showed images of Putin laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin and speaking to veterans who were also at the ceremony.
“It is the sacred duty of the country to take care of the people who defend the country,” he said.
Putin sent Moscow troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching what he called a “special military operation” there.
In the fall he announced the mobilization of 300,000 reservists to bolster Russian ranks in Ukraine, supported financially and militarily by Washington and several European capitals.
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During his two decades in power, Putin has made strengthening the armed forces a top priority and introduced hypersonic weapons, which he described as “invincible”, to Russia’s arsenal.