Vladimir Putin relishes his victories on Russia’s Defender of the Fatherland Day: the president salutes his military ‘heroes’ as his troops capture a city, the US blocks aid to Ukraine and Alexei Navalny lies dead

President Vladimir Putin on Friday praised Russian “heroes” who fought in Ukraine on the eve of the second anniversary of the Kremlin’s offensive, with Moscow buoyed by gains over ammunition-starved Ukrainian forces.

Putin’s message came on Russia’s patriotic holiday, “Defender of the Fatherland Day,” which has always been an occasion for military pageantry and Kremlin-sponsored patriotism.

This year the holiday coincides with Putin, inspired by the capture of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka and his delight at the US Congress blocking crucial military aid to Kiev.

“You are our real national heroes,” Putin said in a video message addressed to troops and veterans.

“We know that it is difficult for you, and we will do everything possible for you to fulfill the tasks ahead of you,” Putin said, adding that arms production in Moscow “has multiplied.”

The city of Avdiivka fell to Moscow last week after months of bloody fighting

Putin’s message came on Russia’s patriotic holiday, the ‘Day of the Defender of the Fatherland’

Putin has flown bombers in recent days, handed out medals to troops and touted a “turning point” in Ukraine.

He has mocked Ukraine’s “chaotic flight” from Avdiivka, which fell to Moscow last week after months of bloody fighting.

Putin has also gained support at home, ahead of elections that are sure to extend his long rule: a massive crackdown has all but crushed dissent and the Russian leader’s main opponent – ​​Alexei Navalny – is dead.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has been weakened by the blocking of American aid, the failed counter-offensive and the growing ammunition shortage.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that there is an “extremely difficult” situation at the front.

Two years of fighting a bigger and richer army has taken its toll on Ukraine’s stretched armed forces.

“It’s extremely difficult,” Ukrainian infantryman Oleksiy told AFP in eastern Ukraine, caked in mud after returning from the trenches.

Vladimir Putin takes part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Now that opposition leader Alexei Navalny is dead, nothing stands in the way of Putin’s re-election

‘We don’t have weapons like them. You know, they have factories for production, and we? We beg for weapons. That’s the way it is,” the 32-year-old said.

In Moscow, Putin laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin walls in a ceremony attended by veterans and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, a key ally of Putin and supporter of the offensive, recanonized it.

In a letter to Putin, Patriarch Kirill said: “We today glorify the achievement of soldiers who heroically fight on the borders of Russia and defend its sovereignty and independence.”

Russia has banned all criticism of its campaign and punished thousands for denouncing the offensive, with repression comparable to the level of the late Soviet Union.

It took Putin’s army several months to take the city, causing an enormous amount of bloodshed

When Ukrainian forces were forced to evacuate, military items were left on the ground

The United States will announce new sanctions on Moscow on Friday following the death last week of Putin’s opponent Navalny in an Arctic prison. His body has not yet been returned to his family.

The UN Security Council will also meet on Friday to commemorate two years of conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives.

In Ukraine, foreign dignitaries began arriving to mark the anniversary of the attack in Moscow, which killed thousands of civilians, in addition to a large number of military deaths.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen arrived in the western city of Lviv on Friday, Zelensky said.

US Senator Chuck Schumer also arrived in the city, close to the Polish border.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen arrived in the western city of Lviv on Friday

A statue of a soldier among the ruins of Avdiivka, now occupied by Russia

The Democrat said on social media that he wanted to “show the Ukrainian people that America stands with them” and “learn more about the weapons Ukraine so desperately needs.”

Despite recent setbacks, Zelenskiy has remained defiant.

Kiev has taken confidence from its continued successes in the Black Sea, where it says it has destroyed a third (25 ships) of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

But its land campaign has stalled, and it is there that Moscow is trying to press its advantage and push further into Ukraine after capturing Avdiivka.

Kiev warned on Friday that Russia will intensify attacks around the new “hotspot” of Maryinka, a city west of the Moscow-controlled stronghold of Donetsk.

However, Ukrainian forces remained determined.

Raising a glass to his army – Vladimir Putin calls his soldiers ‘heroes’ as they take Avdiivka

Ukraine’s land campaign has stalled – Moscow is trying to press its advantage

Ukrainian soldier Oleksiy, who held the fallback lines outside Avdiivka, said that while the fall of the industrial center hit morale, troops were ready to fight on.

‘Absolutely, of course we were angry. Yet no one is discouraged,” he said, with an AK-47 assault rifle tattooed on his neck.

“If we withdraw, they will move along the entire front line.”