The message reads, in part:
“The citizens of the Lugansk People's Republic are celebrating their national holiday at a difficult time, while they are defending their country with arms in hand. I am sure that together we will uphold the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the republic and that the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, which we signed on February 21, will be a reliable foundation for the strengthening of fraternal and allied relations between our countries.”