On February 24, 2022 Vladimir Putin addressed the nation and made clear the objective of the [[Special Military Operation]] in Ukraine was not [[regime change]]:
On February 24, 2022 Vladimir Putin addressed the nation and made clear the objective of the [[Special Military Operation]] in Ukraine was not [[regime change]]:
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{{quotebox-float|"The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and [[genocide]] perpetrated by the Kiev regime. To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation. It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force.<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}
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{{quotebox-float|"The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and [[genocide]] perpetrated by the Kiev regime. To this end, we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to trial those who perpetrated numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation. It is not our plan to occupy the Ukrainian territory. We do not intend to impose anything on anyone by force."<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24</ref>}}