“I congratulate you and all the citizens of the country on the Day of Russia - on a public holiday that is dedicated to our native country, filled with pride in its history, faith in its future.
Today, we are especially acutely aware of how important it is for the Fatherland, for our society, for the people to be united,” Vladimir Putin said at the award ceremony for the State Prize laureates.
Unity and devotion to the motherland, responsibility for it "bequeathed by our ancestors," the President stressed.
“We know what great power these centuries-old traditions, moral values, spiritual foundations have.
They were born and grew stronger throughout the thousand-year history of Russia.
And today they unite our multinational people, for whom at all times sincere, deep feelings of patriotism have been and remain sacred,” the state leader emphasized.
As the president noted in April, Russian society is showing maturity, solidarity, supporting the Armed Forces, as well as efforts aimed at unconditionally ensuring the security of Russia itself and supporting citizens living in Donbass.