Russian President Vladimir Putin broke his silence after two deadly suicide bombings ripped apart Volgograd this week with a stern warning to terrorists: We will pursue you until we have seen your “complete annihilation.”

“Dear friends, we bow our heads before the victims of cruel terrorist acts. I am certain that we will fiercely and consistently continue the fight against terrorists until their complete annihilation,” Putin said in an unusual, second televised address close to midnight Tuesday, according to The Globe and Mail.

Putin broke a  “long-time” New Year’s tradition and “gave up on the pre-recorded address to the nation shot at the Kremlin several days before the New Year” to give a second address that included his condemnation of the terrorist attacks:

“We’ll lead a confident, tough and consistent battle against the terrorists until their full elimination,” Putin vowed, according to Russia Today.

With the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, all eyes have been on Russia after Sunday and Monday’s suicide bombings killed a reported 34 people and injured another 80.

According to The Moscow Times, the suspected terrorist in Sunday’s train station bombing has been identified as Pavel Pechyonkin – a Russian who “worked as a paramedic with an ambulance service but left home in 2011 and joined Dagestani militants after converting to Islam and changing his name to Ansar Ar-rusi.”

Pechyonkin reportedly released a video statement “saying he was following God’s will and would not turn back: ‘I have come here only to make Allah pleased with me, to earn heaven,'” the Times said.

Watch Putin’s address:

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Janeen Capizola

"And though she be but little, she is fierce." And fun! This conservative-minded political junkie, mom of three, dancer and one-time NFL cheerleader holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science. [email protected]. Twitter: @JaneenBPR

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