Head of the DPR Zakharchenko congratulated the nation on the occasion of the Day of Defender of Fatherland

Today, on February 23, the Day of Defender of Fatherland was celebrated in Novorosssiya as well as in Russia.

Head of the DPR Aleksandr Zakharchenko appealed to the nation on this occasion:

“Dear fellow citizens, the inhabitants of Donbass, glorious warriors of the Donetsk People’s Republic!

I heartily congratulate you on the Day of Defender of Fatherland! The sons of the Donetsk land have always been known for their bravery and heroism. Legends are being told about their feats of arms. Glorious traditions of homeland defense are being passed from one generation to another – the traditions of the warrior-nation, the victorious nation – in the course of the most terrible battles of the Great Patriotic War as well as in the course of carrying out of the international duty in Afghanistan and in the course of defense of the frontiers of the Donetsk People’s Republic. The holiday we are going to celebrate is one more cause to feel the incessant consistency of our traditions. On this day we congratulate all those who are in line of duty, who, while risking their lives, are protecting the security of our mothers and fathers, our children and all the peaceful citizens of the Republic.

Today our enemies enter into negotiations with us. They fear us and respect us as a force they have to regard. This is your achievement first of all.

However at the same time we bow our heads to those who gave their lives for their Fatherland. We mourn about those who perished in the battle for the future flourishing of the Donetsk People’s Republic. Their heroic dead will always stay in the memory of our people? And our duty is to never forget them.

I want to wish every defender of our fatherland strong health, well-being, happiness to your nearest and dearest, and, most of all, peace in our land!”