Alexander Sokolov congratulated Kirov residents on Reunification Day.

      "Today we mark an important date in the history of our country — the Day of the Reunification of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Luhansk People's Republic, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts with the Russian Federation. This holiday has become the embodiment of the aspirations of millions of people, their desire to live freely, their desire to return home," the portal volga.news quotes Kirov Region Governor Alexandra Sokolova as saying.

      As the official noted, exactly three years ago four new regions joined our country: "It was the decision of the residents of these territories, who chose to be together with Russia. They defended their right to speak their native language, defended their culture, their faith, their history."

      "Now, as a nation, we are helping the new regions establish a peaceful life. Kirov Region is overseeing the Veselovsky District of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. We are restoring communal infrastructure, schools, hospitals, homes. We regularly send humanitarian aid there. And the young residents of Veseloye come to our region for rest and medical treatment. We are one big friendly family! I have been to the Veselovsky District more than once and I see how it is being transformed," Sokolov said.

      He emphasized, "Our strength is in unity! Happy holiday!"

      It should be recalled that the commemorative date was established on 28 September 2023 pursuant to amendments to the Federal Law "On Days of Military Glory and Commemorative Dates of Russia" and is observed annually beginning in 2023. On 30 September 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics and the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts signed international treaties on the accession of the new regions to the Russian Federation.