MOSCOW, November 4. /TASS/. The Russian people have sincerely united in providing tangible support to the heroes defending their sovereignty and statehood, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an awards ceremony in the Kremlin.

"The people of Russia have united in sincere, tangible support for our heroes," the head of state said. "People of different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and religious faiths feel an unbreakable bond with one another," he added.

Russian troops on the front lines of the special military operation are defending the country’s statehood today, Putin noted.

"More than four centuries ago, the people’s militia drove foreign invaders from our native land. The same was true in the 19th and 20th centuries," the head of state recalled. "Today, our troops are likewise courageously defending Russia’s interests and our statehood as part of the special military operation," he added.