"I count on political parties to actively nominate and support such candidates during election campaigns at all levels," Putin said during his speech at the meeting of the Russian Council of Legislators, held in St. Petersburg. The Russian president stressed that these are "soldiers and officers who have demonstrated in combat conditions the firmness of their character and their high human qualities." "I am convinced that they will perform (their duties) just as worthily in their future jobs in institutions, educational centers, in high positions in all spheres," he said. Putin, who in his last address to the nation called the veterans of Ukraine the "true elite of the nation," stressed today that "they are a cadre reserve and we must select people who are ready to serve Russia and who serve Russia now without sparing their health and their lives." The Russian president announced in March the creation of a special personnel program, which he called "Time of the Heroes," to promote military personnel and volunteers returning from the front lines to key positions. "I look at these courageous people, many of them not so young, and I can say without exaggeration that my heart swells with pride for our people, for our people, and for them. These are the kind of people, without a doubt, who will not retreat, will not fail, and will not betray," he assured. Read Also: Zelensky warns that the Chernobyl disaster could be repeated in Zaporizhia (Portuguese version)