Vladimir Putin asked women and children in Russia "to knit socks" for Russian soldiers on the front in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on women and children in Russia to knit socks for Russian soldiers on the front lines in Ukraine, drawing inspiration from the history of World War II.

In a speech at a state event, Putin emphasized the importance of "the unity of the people" and linked this concept to military success, stating that civilian support, including through knitting socks, was essential in wartime.

He compared the situation to that in Germany, arguing that, during the war, German soldiers did not receive the same support from civilians, which led to suffering: "Why didn't they do this in Germany? Their soldiers froze to death outside Moscow. And no socks came from Germany".

His statements come in the context of an ongoing war and reflect the Kremlin's attempts to justify actions through historical parallels and rhetoric about societal cohesion.