February 23 is Defender of the Fatherland Day in Russia, on which people fete all troops, war veterans, and the families of those whose kin are with the military.
Senior officials, including Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov, have congratulated the personnel of the armed forces.
"Today, an active process is underway to form a new face of the armed forces of the Russian Federation - modern, with advanced equipment, enjoying high authority in the society, the stronghold of statehood, capable of ensuring global stability and securely protecting the national interests of our country," the minister said in a statement on the occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day.
According to the established tradition, Russian officials, senators and lawmakers will lay wreathes to the Tomb of the Uknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall, the monument to Marshall Zhukov and the monument to law and order officers who died in the line of duty.
Salutes will be fired in hero cities and large administrative centers, and military units will have a special formation to mark the occasion.
MOSCOW, February 23 (Itar-Tass)
| 
