OREANDA-NEWS. November 5, 2008. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin congratulated veterans of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Armed Forces' General Staff on Military Intelligence Officer's Day and the agency's 90th anniversary.

The message reads, in part:

"There are many glorious and heroic pages in the military intelligence annals. They are inseparably linked with world history's momentous and even dramatic events, with the names of outstanding intelligence officers, who raised the standard of professionalism and effectiveness while displaying exceptional courage and valour.

"Faultless training, competence, and unique experience, which your predecessors accumulated, now help intelligence officers selflessly fulfill their duty, perform the most challenging and critical tasks, and securely guard Russia's national interests."