MOSCOW, February 23. /TASS/. The collective West seeks to break Russia up, but such attempts are doomed to fail, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Thursday at a gala event marking the Defender of the Fatherland Day.
"Currently, we are again facing a serious danger. Exploiting Ukraine, the collective West seeks to break up Russia and to rob it of its independence. These attempts are doomed to fail," Shoigu said.
According to the minister, the Armed Forces serve as a guarantor of Russia’s national security and sustainable development.
"Our soldiers and officers defend what our grandfathers and great-grandfathers used to fight for. For them, the ultimate goal of their lives has always been the prosperity and security of Russia. And for us, their successors, loyalty to the Fatherland is the fundamental value and the reliable bedrock of Russia’s independence," the Russian defense minister emphasized.
Shoigu pointed out that the heroism and valor of soldiers as well as the might and glory of Russian armaments have always been an intrinsic part of the country’s grandeur. The victories of a Russian soldier, the minister stated, are inscribed in the country’s history forever, and the feat of the nation during World War Two will never fade away.
"I sincerely thank those who are on the frontline, who solve complex tasks to supply combat operations, and who risk their lives in the line of military duty," Shoigu said, particularly thanking the officers and personnel of military medical units and organizations.