MOSCOW, February 23. /TASS/. The participants of the special military operation are heroically fighting against the neo-Nazi Kiev regime, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a video address published on the Kremlin website on the occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day.

"Today, our fighters are heroically battling neo-Nazism which took root in Ukraine and protecting our people on our historical territories," the Russian leader said, stressing that they "are fighting courageously, heroically.".