Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russian forces are winning what he called a "just battle" in Ukraine, Reuters and TASS reported, quoted by BTA.
"You and I did what we had to do, and we are proud of it. We supported our brothers and sisters in their firm and responsible decision. Today, defending this choice, our fighters and commanders are going on the offensive. The whole country, the whole of Russia is fighting a just battle and working hard," he said in a video address to the nation.
Putin noted that Russians together defend love for the homeland and the unity of historical destiny.
"We are fighting and winning. We defend the fundamental national interests, common memory and values. The Russian language, traditions, culture and faith," Putin emphasized in the video posted on the Kremlin website.
"Together we defend our love for the Motherland and the unity of our historical destiny, we fight and we win", the Russian president added.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, calling it a "special military operation" to demilitarize and denazify the neighboring country. Kiev and its allies claim that the invasion is an unfounded imperialist attempt to seize territory. The war continues despite diplomatic efforts by US President Donald Trump to end the conflict, including separate summits with Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders, Reuters recalls.
Russia controls about 114,500 square kilometers, or 19 percent, of Ukraine, including Crimea, and much of the territory in the east and southeast of the country, according to battlefield maps.
Trump, reversing an earlier position, said last week that Ukraine had a chance to regain the territory, and Washington said it was considering Kiev's request to receive Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike deep into Russian territory.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that its forces had taken control of two more frontline villages in key areas of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities did not comment on the Russian announcement about the villages of Shandrykholov and Zarichne, but President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev's counter-offensive operation near the town of Dobropilia, also in Donetsk region, had made progress, Reuters reported. The agency noted that it was not able to independently confirm the information from either side about the state of the battlefield.