Attending the meeting were Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, and Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: First of all, I would like to congratulate all of you on returning to the Motherland. Right now, I would like to address those of you who serve in the military. I would like to thank you for being loyal to your oath of allegiance, your duty and the Motherland. Your country never forgot about you, even for a minute. And here you are back home.

All of you will be nominated for receiving state awards. You and I will meet again some time later, and we will talk about your future. But for now, I would simply like to congratulate you on your homecoming.

Thank you very much and congratulations.