Putin promised an immediate response to attempts to prevent the Russian Federation
Russia will immediately respond to any attempts to prevent it, which will lead to serious consequences. Moscow is ready for any development of events, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, February 24, in an emergency address to citizens. The broadcast was conducted on the YouTube channel "Russia 24".
The basis of the policy of the Russian Federation is freedom, this right should be enjoyed by everyone, including residents of Ukraine, the Russian leader believes.
He stressed that the actions of the Russian Federation are not connected with the infringement of Ukraine's interests, but with the protection of itself from "those who took Ukraine hostage."
No one should have any doubt that a direct attack on Russia will lead to defeat and terrible consequences for the potential aggressor, the president said.
"As for the military sphere, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of a significant part of its nuclear potential, is today one of the most powerful nuclear powers. And moreover, it has certain advantages in a number of new types of weapons. In this regard, no one should have any doubt that a direct attack on Russia will lead to defeat and terrible consequences for the potential aggressor," he said.
The fate of Russia is in the safe hands of its people, which means that the goals will be achieved, the country's security is guaranteed, Putin summed up.
"It is strength and readiness to fight that underlie independence and sovereignty, and are the necessary foundation on which one can build one's future," the Russian leader noted.
On the eve of February 23, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced the appeal of the heads of the DPR and LPR Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to help repel the increased aggression of Ukrainian security forces to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and civilian casualties.
As the representative of the Russian leader stressed, the corresponding appeal was made on the basis of articles 3 and 4 of the treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between Russia and the republics, which were signed on February 21 as a result of Putin's recognition of the independence of the DPR and the LPR.
The situation on the contact line in Donbass escalated on February 17. In the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, intense shelling by Ukrainian security forces, including from heavy weapons, was reported. The republics announced a general mobilization and evacuation of civilians to the territory of Russia.
Vladimir Putin described the shelling of the territories of Donbass by the Armed Forces of Ukraine as genocide against the population of the regions. On February 18, a similar opinion was expressed by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noting the obscene attitude of Kiev towards the residents of Donbass if they "share the culture of another country", which can be observed for seven years.
Since 2014, the Ukrainian authorities have been conducting a military operation against the residents of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup and the new government in Ukraine. At the same time, Kiev blames Moscow for the current situation. Russia has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict.
