MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had been joking less amid the special military operation, which is now entering its third year.

"The past two-plus years have been a difficult period for all of us - for the country and for me, personally, as well. I’ll be honest: we have joked in this audience <...>. I have found myself joking less recently, and I have nearly lost the ability to laugh," he told reporters at the combined Q&A session and his annual press conference.

Additionally, Putin admitted that he has been honing his ability to identify critical issues while focusing his efforts on addressing them.