President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades, veterans,
I extend my congratulations to you on this significant occasion – Security Agency Worker’s Day.
Today, we pay honour to the professionals and patriots who steadfastly defend Russia’s national interests, uphold its constitutional order and territorial integrity, and ensure effective protection of its citizens, society, and state from both internal and external threats.
Throughout the centuries-long history of our Motherland, security agencies have served as its faithful and secure support. It is our duty to remember the glorious and heroic path of the national security services and to honour the memory of veterans who saved lives and defended the freedom and independence of our country. They made a monumental contribution to Victory over Nazism, the 80th anniversary of which we will celebrate in May of the coming year.
It is heartening that the current generation of security officers preserve and build upon the best traditions of their predecessors, enhancing their performance and acting with foresight, competence and responsibility.
On behalf of the citizens of Russia, I express my gratitude to the officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the Federal Guard Service (FSO), and the Main Directorate for Special Programmes for their competence and bravery, for their loyalty to duty and total commitment, for their determination to accomplish the tasks set with utmost efficiency.
Special words of appreciation go to those who currently act decisively in Donbass and Novorossiya, along the line of contact and in border regions, who conduct effective raids behind enemy lines, and who, through our intelligence services, procure vital information indispensable for the defence of the Fatherland, for the protection of civilians, for achieving all the goals of the special military operation, and for strengthening Russia’s technological and economic sovereignty and our standing in the world.
I want to emphasise that today we are confronted with a multitude of serious challenges. This necessitates a significant improvement in the quality of your work across all key areas.
The fight against terrorism remains a key objective. I urge all intelligence services, especially the FSB, to engage in counterterrorism with the highest level of focus and rigour, drawing upon the extensive experience accumulated. I also call upon the National Anti-Terrorism Committee to coordinate these efforts, to devise preventive measures, and to pay greater attention to the protection of strategic military and civilian facilities.
Counterintelligence, particularly military, face crucial responsibilities. Your actions within the troops, especially in units engaged in the special military operation, must be precise and systemic. You must swiftly suppress the activities of foreign intelligence services, actively combat those who orchestrate sabotage and terrorist attacks, and detect spies and traitors.
The FSB Border Service faces special requirements. Your task is to further enhance the technical equipment and mobility of border authorities, to staff them with well-trained personnel, and, of course, to fine-tune interaction with army units and other security agencies.
The safety of our society depends directly on a resolute fight against extremism. Those who incite national discord and religious intolerance, and who attempt to destabilise and weaken the country from within, must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
It is imperative to be more active and assertive in combatting economic crimes and any manifestations of corruption, to enhance protection of information infrastructure and resources, to bolster the security of major social, political, and international events, to ensure the uninterrupted operation of public and military administration systems, and to provide reliable counterintelligence cover for defence enterprises and the entire process of working on our advanced weapons systems. I am confident that the Russian intelligence services will consistently meet these challenges.
Once again, I congratulate you on your holiday and, naturally, on the upcoming year 2025!
May you and your loved ones enjoy good health and all the best!