In his speech, Putin congratulated Russian army soldiers and commanders, saying they had taken on the responsibility of fighting "for the motherland, truth, and justice." The president expressed his support for the military "both in word and in deed," concluding his address with the statement, "We believe in you and in our victory!"
The remainder of the address proceeded in a routine manner. Putin recalled Russia's "thousand-year history" and called on citizens to unite. According to his emphasis, it is precisely unity that determines the country's sovereignty, security, and future.
At the same time, the Russian president did not mention the losses of the Russian armed forces in the war in Ukraine. According to BBC Russian Service and Mediazona data, by mid-December 2025, the identities of more than 155,000 Russian military personnel killed in the war had been established.
Experts, however, emphasize that the real losses could be significantly higher—possibly over 200,000–300,000.
