MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin cited the Bible, speaking about the Russian special operation on protection of Donbass Friday.

The head of state underscored that the operation aims to free civilians of genocide and suffering.

"It is to save these people of this suffering, this genocide is the main, core reason, causing motive and goal of the military operation that we’ve started in Donbass and in Ukraine. This is the goal," Putin said, speaking at the rally concert, dedicated to the anniversary of reunification of Crimea with Russia.

"Words from the Holy Bible come to my head: there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends," Putin added.

"And we see how heroically our guys act and fight during this operation," the president underscored.

He noted that, while the mentioned quote comes from the Bible, they encompass "a universal value for all ethnicities and representatives of all religions of Russia."

"And for our people precisely, for our people first and foremost," he added.

The head of state pointed out how Russian servicemen act during the special operation.

"Shoulder to shoulder, they help, support each other, and, if necessary cover them from a bullet on the battlefield with their own bodies, like brothers. We had hot had such unity for a long time," he concluded.