[REGNUM] For the first time, Russian President Vladimir Putin 's New Year's address to fellow citizens was not recorded against the backdrop of the Moscow Kremlin. The President of Russia, breaking tradition, appeared surrounded by military personnel.
At the same time, the video greeting became the longest in time: it lasted nine minutes instead of the usual five.
In his New Year's address to the citizens of Russia, Putin called 2022 the year that "put a lot in its place, separated courage and heroism from betrayal and cowardice." As the President of Russia noted, against the backdrop of ongoing events, in the outgoing year it became obvious that "there is no higher power than love for one's family and friends, loyalty to friends and comrades, devotion to one's Fatherland."
As Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov clarified earlier, Russian leader Vladimir Putin arrived at the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don on December 31, where the New Year's greetings were recorded.