PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA

Vladimir Putin chaired a State Council meeting at the Kremlin on the support of families in the Russian Federation.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades, veterans,

I extend my congratulations to you on this significant occasion – Security Agency Worker’s Day.

Today, we pay honour the professionals and patriots who steadfastly defend Russia’s national interests, uphold its constitutional order and territorial integrity, and safeguard the well-being of its citizens, society, and state from both internal and external threats.

Throughout the centuries-long history of our Motherland, security agencies have served as its faithful and robust support. It is our duty to remember the illustrious and heroic journey of the national security services and to honour the memory of veterans who saved lives and defended the freedom and independence of our country. They made a monumental contribution to the Victory over Nazism, the 80th anniversary of which we will solemnly commemorate in May of the coming year.

It is heartening that the current generation of security officers cherish and build upon the finest traditions of their predecessors. They achieve new milestones and act with foresight, competence and responsibility.

On behalf of the citizens of Russia, I express my gratitude to the officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the Federal Guard Service (FSO), and the Main Directorate for Special Programmes for their competence and bravery, for their loyalty to duty and high dedication, and for their determination to execute their tasks with utmost efficiency.

Special words of appreciation go to those who currently act decisively in Donbass and Novorossiya, along the line of contact and in border regions, who conduct effective raids behind enemy lines, and who, through our intelligence services, procure vital information indispensable for the defence of the Fatherland, for the protection of civilians, for achieving all the goals of the special military operation, and for strengthening Russia’s technological and economic sovereignty and our standing in the world.

I emphasise that today we are confronted with a multitude of serious challenges. This necessitates a significant improvement in the quality of your work across all principal areas.

The foremost task remains the fight against terrorism. I urge all intelligence services, especially the FSB, to engage in counterterrorism with the highest level of focus and rigour, drawing upon the extensive experience accumulated. I also call upon the National Anti-Terrorist Committee to coordinate these efforts, to devise preventive measures, and to pay heightened attention to the protection of strategic military and civilian facilities.

Counterintelligence, particularly military agencies, face crucial responsibilities. Your actions within the troops, especially in units engaged in the special military operation, must be precise and methodical. You must swiftly suppress the activities of foreign intelligence services, actively combat those who orchestrate sabotage and terrorist attacks, and detect spies and traitors.

The FSB Border Service faces specific demands. Your task is to further enhance the technical equipment and mobility of border authorities, to staff them with well-trained personnel, and, of course, to foster improved cooperation with the army units and other security agencies.

The safety of our society depends directly on a determined fight against extremism. Those who incite national discord and religious intolerance, and who attempt to destabilise and weaken the country from within, must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

It is imperative to combat economic crimes and any manifestations of corruption more actively and intensively, to elevate the level of protection for information infrastructure and resources, to bolster the security of major social, political, and international events, to ensure the uninterrupted operation of state and military governance systems, and to provide reliable counterintelligence cover for the enterprises of the military-industrial complex and the entire process of working on our advanced weapons systems. I am confident that the Russian intelligence services will consistently meet these challenges.

Once again, I congratulate you on your holiday and, naturally, on the approaching year 2025!

May you and your loved ones enjoy good health and all the best!

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the initiative of the Uzbekistani side.

Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.

On December 20, the President will chair a meeting of the State Council, focusing on support for families in the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin sums up the results of the year and answers questions from journalists and the people of Russia in a live broadcast.

Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev chaired a meeting of the Maritime Board of the Russian Federation.

The inaugural session of the working group to prepare for the Presidential Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport was conducted via videoconference. The Council is set to assemble in the first half of 2025, with a primary focus on advancing adaptive physical culture and sport.

Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to the participants and guests of the Your Move National Student Forum.

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to Miron Lifintsev, Kirill Prigoda, Andrei Minakov, and Yegor Kornev, winners of the 4x100m Freestyle Relay of the World Aquatics Swimming Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

The President sent his greetings to Miron Lifintsev, Kirill Prigoda, Arina Surkova and Darya Klepikova, the winners of the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay of the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The President sent his greetings to Ilya Borodin, winner in the men's 400m Individual Medley at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The President met with representatives of Russian business circles at the Kremlin.

Vladimir Putin presented state decorations of the Russian Federation to winners of the 17th Summer Paralympic Games 2024 in the Kremlin's St Alexander Hall.

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Awarding an Honorary Designation to the 1307th Motor Rifle Regiment.

Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order On Awarding an Honorary Designation to the 96th Detached Reconnaissance Brigade.

The President took part in an expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre of the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin sent greetings to participants and organisers of the training camp leaders of the Association of Veterans of the Special Military Operation.

On December 16, Vladimir Putin will meet with Russian athletes who won medals at the 17th Paralympic Summer Games in Paris and present them with state decorations.

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The 17th Paralympic Summer Games took place from August 28 to September 8, 2024. The Russian paralympic team won 64 medals (20 gold, 21 silver and 23 bronze medals) and ranked eighth in the unofficial standings based on the overall medal count. A total of 171 countries participated in the games.

Vladimir Putin received updates from Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief Alexander Kurenkov, Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev, and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov regarding the grounding of two tankers in the Kerch Strait. Following the President’s instructions, a government working group led by Vitaly Savelyev will be established to coordinate rescue efforts and address the aftermath of the fuel spill.