Vladimir Putin has vowed ‘nothing and no-one’ will stop him achieving ‘victory’ in Ukraine, as one of his top cronies hinted Russia could seek to seize more parts.

Putin, 71, appeared with an unexplained blotch on his forehead for an address marking the first anniversary of its annexation of four Ukrainian regions.

He hailed the illegal incorporation of the so-called the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics along with parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson ‘a defining and truly historic event’.

The West has denounced both the referendum votes carried out last year and the recent ballots as a sham.

The votes were held as Russian authorities attempted to tighten their grip on territories Moscow illegally annexed a year ago and still does not fully control.

Putin said he acted to restore ‘something every person values, namely culture, traditions, and mother tongue’ among mainly Russian-speaking people.

This was ‘everything that was loathed by nationalists and their Western patrons who orchestrated a coup in Kyiv in 2014 and then unleashed a full-scale civil war and terror against dissenters and organised blockades, constant shelling, and punitive actions in Donbas’.

Seeking to justify his war, he vowed: ‘Nothing and no-one can break the will of millions of people, or their belief in truth and historical justice.

‘The free and unequivocal choice of our brothers and sisters was wholeheartedly supported by the Russian people. 

‘We understood and deeply felt the most important thing: by defending our compatriots in Donbas and Novorossiya, we are defending Russia itself. 

‘Together, we are fighting for the Motherland, for our sovereignty, spiritual values, unity, and victory. 

‘I thank all the citizens of the country for this solidarity and patriotism.’

Despite plunging Russia and Ukraine into a debilitating 19-month war in which hundreds of thousands have perished, the dictator claimed he was ‘building our common future together, rebuilding and building schools and hospitals, housing and roads, museums and memorial sites’.

Putin thanked people in the occupied regions ‘for preserving and passing on your love for the Fatherland to your children despite all the trials’. 

He claimed: ‘Thanks to you, your fortitude and determination, Russia has become even stronger. 

‘We are one people, and together we can overcome anything and meet any challenge.’

Close Putin henchman Dmitry Medvedev vowed Russia will invade more new regions of Russia. 

He said: ‘The special military operation will continue until the Nazi Kyiv regime is completely destroyed and the original Russian territories are liberated from the enemy.

‘Victory will be ours. And there will be more new regions within Russia.’

Ex-president of Russia and now Putin’s deputy on the Kremlin’s security council, he said the referendums saw Ukrainian citizens make ‘a fateful decision – to be with their Fatherland [Russia]. 

‘This choice became a symbol not only of the restoration of historical justice, but also of the unity of the Russian people, their colossal will and dedication.’

The addresses came after Russia’s Defence Ministry said Friday it would enlist 130,000 men for compulsory military service beginning October 1 in most regions of the country.

It announced it would for the first time begin enlisting residents of the annexed territories as part of its twice-yearly military conscription campaign.

Russia says conscripts are not deployed to what it calls its ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine, or to serve in the annexed territories.

However, after their service, conscripts automatically become reservists, and Russia has previously deployed reservists to Ukraine.

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