Shoigu: Defender of the Fatherland Day acquires special significance against the background of a special operationMOSCOW, Feb 23 – RIA Novosti.
Defense Minister General of the Russian Army Sergei Shoigu congratulated servicemen and veterans on Defender of the Fatherland Day and noted that today, against the background of a special military operation in Ukraine, this holiday acquires special significance.
"Comrades soldiers and sailors, sergeants and petty officers, ensigns and midshipmen, officers! Dear veterans! Defender of the Fatherland Day is celebrated on February 23. Today, this holiday takes on special significance, becoming for us a symbol of unity in the face of a serious challenge. Our soldiers have to defend the national interests of Russia, showing courage and dedication in the fight against the followers of Nazism," said the minister, whose words are quoted in the military department.
Shoigu noted that by participating in the special operation, servicemen and volunteers are fighting for the right of each of the Russians to a peaceful free life, demonstrate courage, mutual assistance, and readiness to solve complex and responsible tasks in the most difficult conditions. At the same time, the Minister added, taking into account the current foreign policy situation, the combat training of personnel is being improved, measures are being taken to equip troops with modern weapons and military equipment.
Shoigu ordered to hold artillery salutes on Thursday, at 21.00 local time, with the involvement of military units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the hero city of Moscow, in the hero cities of Volgograd, Kerch, Murmansk, Novorossiysk, St. Petersburg (the hero city of Leningrad), Sevastopol, Smolensk, Tula, as well as in cities where The headquarters of military districts, fleets, armies and the Caspian Flotilla are deployed. Fireworks will be held with 30 blank volleys of artillery guns and fireworks launches.
Development of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation this year
As previously reported, the development of the Russian Armed Forces will continue in 2023. Among the priorities for this year, it is planned to put 22 launchers with intercontinental ballistic missiles on combat duty in the Strategic Missile Forces. It is also planned to take three Tu-160M strategic bombers into the Aerospace Forces. The Borey-A strategic nuclear submarine, the Emperor Alexander, is to be accepted into the Navy. It is expected that the supply of hypersonic missile systems "Dagger" and "Zircon" will increase.
In addition, among the measures to strengthen security, it is planned to increase the number of Russian Armed Forces to 1.5 million people during 2023-2026. Moreover, special attention will be paid to recruiting troops with contractors, timely transfer of new weapons to military units, increasing military ranges, increasing the volume of training specialists.
February 23
Defender of the Fatherland Day, celebrated on February 23, is the day of the country's military glory. The holiday originated in the USSR - then February 23 was celebrated annually as a national holiday, the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.
There was no document establishing February 23 as an official Soviet holiday. Soviet historiography linked the timing of honoring the military to this date with the events of 1918: on January 28 (January 15, old style), 1918, the Council of People's Commissars adopted a Decree on the organization of the Red Army, and on February 11 (January 29) – the Workers' and Peasants' Red Fleet. On February 22, the decree-proclamation of the SNK "The Socialist Fatherland is in danger!" was published, and on February 23, mass rallies were held in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), Moscow and other cities of the country, at which workers were called to defend their Fatherland from the advancing German troops. This day was marked by the mass entry of volunteers into the Red Army and the beginning of the formation of its detachments and units.
Due to established traditions, February 23 has become a national public holiday dedicated to all generations of defenders of the Fatherland. He is a symbol of the courage and valor of the Russian army. Defender of the Fatherland Day in Russia not only honors those who served or are currently serving in the ranks of the Armed Forces of the country, but this day is also an informal national holiday for all men. It is celebrated both by colleagues in their teams and in families, and is of a mass nature. On this day, women veterans of the Great Patriotic War, women servicemen are also congratulated. One of the traditions of the holiday in Moscow is a solemn ceremony at the Kremlin walls, laying wreaths at the Grave of the unknown soldier.
