Couched in a message that at times teetered on the edge of extreme sentamentality and at other times wreaked of Soviet-era communist jargon and its rationalizing propagandistic worldview, Putin was profuse in expressing his gratitude to all those who have been ‘participants’ in fighting [to reclaim] Russia’s historic lands, while protecting the lives of their ‘new subjects’ [i.e., the recently-annexed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk]. From his bully pulpit he allowed himself to wax philosophical about the meaning of the New Year’s tradition, while encouraging his listeners to start it afresh by not carrying affronts and misunderstandings into the new year.

[Putin’s address follows as translated by loc]

Respected citizens of Russia! Dear friends!

The year 2022 is coming to an end. It was a year of hard, necessary decisions, important steps toward Russia’s acquiring full sovereignty, and the powerful consolidation of our society.

It was a year that put much in place, that clearly separated courage and heroism from treason and cowardice, and showed that there’s no higher power than love of one’s family and neighbors, faithfulness to friends and military comrades, and devotion to one’s Fatherland.

This was a year of truly turning, fateful events. They became that demarcation that lays the foundation of our common future, our true independence.

And we are fighting for this today, we are defending our people on our historical territories in the new subjects [under the authority] of the Russian Federation [assumed to mean the recently-annexed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk || loc]. Together we are building and creating.

Most important is the fate of Russia. Defense of the Homeland – this is our holy duty before our ancestors and descendants. Moral and historical right is on our side. 

The passing year brought large, pivotal changes both for our country and for the whole world. It was filled with worries, anxieties, and trials.

But our multinational people, as in all difficult periods of Russian history, displayed courage and honor, and in word and deed supported the defenders of the Fatherland – our soldiers and officers, and all participants of the special military operation.

We always knew, and again today we are convinced that the sovereign, independent, and safe future of Russia depends only on us, on our strength and will.

Western elites for years have hypocritically assured all of us of their peaceful intentions, including regarding a resolution of a most difficult conflict in the Donbas. In fact, they encouraged in every possible way the Neo-Nazis, who continued to conduct military – openly territorial – actions against the peaceful citizens of the people’s republics of the Donbas.  

The West lied about peace, but prepared for aggression and today admits this without hesitating, in the open, and they are using Ukraine and its people to weaken and split Russia. We have never allowed nor will we ever allow anyone to do this.

Those serving in Russia’s military, the militias, and volunteers are fighting now for native land, for truth and justice, and so that the guarantees of peace and safety for Russia are securely provided. They all are our heroes. For them, it is the hardest of all now.

With the new year that is upon us, I wish a heartfelt Happy New Year to all those taking part in the special military operation, those here alongside me [Comment: a group of soldiers, representing various units of the Russian Armed Services, stood behind Putin during his speech || loc], those at the forefront and on the front lines, those going through preparations in training centers, in order to afterward go into battle, those in hospitals or, having fulfilled their duty, have already returned home, all who are carrying out combat duty in strategic units, to the entire personnel of the Armed Forces!

Dear comrades, I thank you for your valorous service! Our huge country, in its entirety, is proud of your strength of spirit, steadfastness, and valor. Millions of people are with you, heart and soul, and around the table on New Year’s, surely they will make toasts in your honor.

A huge thank you to all who are providing for the military actions: drivers and railroad workers who are supplying the front, doctors, paramedics, and male and female nurses, who are fighting for the lives of soldiers and looking after wounded civilians. I thank the workers and engineers of our military and other plants who are laboring today, giving their all, builders who are erecting civilian facilities and defensive fortifications and are helping to rebuild cities and villages of the Donbas and New Russia that have been destroyed.

Dear friends!

Since 2014, after the Crimean events, Russia has been living under sanctions, but this year a real sanctions war has been declared on us. Those who contrived it have been waiting for the complete destruction of our industry, finances, and transport.

This has not happened, because we, all together, have created a reliable reserve of durability. What we have done and are doing in this sphere, all of it is directed at strengthening our sovereignty in a most important area – in economics. And our fight for ourselves, for our interests, and for our future, without a doubt, is serving as an inspirational example for other states in their striving for a just, multi-polar world order.

I consider it very important that in the year that is passing such qualities as mercy, solidarity, and responsiveness that acts from a tender heart have gained special significance in our people. More and more citizens are feeling the need to help others. They themselves are uniting without any formal directives.

I want to thank you for your sensitivity, responsibility, and kindheartedness, that you – people of various ages and wealth – are getting actively involved in the common cause, organizing storage and transportation, in order to deliver packages to our fighters in the zone of military actions and to suffering residents of cities and villages, and sending children from the Federation’s new subjects [again assumed to mean the recently-annexed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk || loc] on vacation.

You, my dear [friends], are rendering tremendous support to the families of fighters who have perished. They gave up their lives, defending the lives of other people.

I understand how difficult it is now, on New Year’s Eve night, for their wives, sons, daughters, their parents who brought up real heroes. We will do everything possible to help the families of our comrades who have perished to raise the children, to give them a worthy education, and to get a profession.

With all my heart I share your pain and ask that you accept my sincere words of support.

Dear friends!

At any and all times, even very hard ones, we were observing the onset of the new year in our country. It was, and remains of all, the favorite holiday and possesses the magical gift to reveal in people the best traits, to multiply the significance of traditional family values, the energy of magnanimity, generosity, and trust.

In meeting the New Year, all strive to bring joy to those close to them, to warm them with attention and soul-felt warmth, to give them what they were dreaming of, to see the delight in the eyes of children, and to sense how touchingly thankful for our attention are the parents – the old generation – they are able to value these flashes of happiness.

May these heartfelt words and thankful feeling give to all of you as much inner strength and confidence as possible that together we will overcome all difficulties and will preserve our country great and independent.

We will be going only forward to conquer for the sake of our families and for the sake of Russia, for the sake of the future of our singly beloved Homeland!

Happy New Year, dear friends! Happy 2023!