He made a corresponding statement in his greeting to the participants of the IX Congress of the Union of Donbass Volunteers.

“From the first days of the aggression unleashed by the neo-Nazis who seized power in Kiev against the civilians of Donbass, militias and volunteers from all regions of our big country, at the call of their hearts, came to the aid of their brothers,” the Kremlin press service quotes him as saying.

In August 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers expanded the categories of persons who can receive certificates of combat veterans - now SVO volunteers and Donbass militias will be able to apply for them.