The former military man said this during a meeting between Putin and the disabled and representatives of public organizations via videoconference.

“I would like to thank you very much for taking the Donbass to Russia.

Not in vain we fought, not in vain the boys died.

Thank you!"

Serik said.

RT broadcast the event.

Earlier it was reported that Putin admired the fighters who were not afraid to fight for themselves and others in the Donbass.

Prior to this, the president noted that the reunification of Russia with the Donbass should have happened earlier.

According to him, in Moscow “they proceeded from the fact that, perhaps, it would be possible to agree - both Luhansk and Donetsk, within the framework of the Minsk agreements, would still be able to somehow reunite with Ukraine.”

On September 30, the President of Russia, the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, signed agreements on the accession of these regions to Russia.