Shoigu: conscripts of the spring draft will not be sent to hot spots
Russian conscripts called up this spring will not be sent to hot spots, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu promised. He added that all conscripts of last spring will be discharged into the reserve at the end of their service life. In addition, the head of the Defense Ministry said that the Ukrainian army has suffered significant damage, and this allows us to liberate Donbass.
Conscripts of the spring draft, which will begin in April, will not be sent to combat zones. This was stated during a conference call by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, reports TASS.
According to him, all conscripts of last spring, after the expiration of their service life, will be discharged into the reserve and sent to their places of residence.
On March 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that conscript soldiers were not involved in the special operation in Ukraine. "I would like to emphasize that soldiers undergoing military service do not and will not participate in combat operations, and there will be no additional conscription of reservists from the reserve. The tasks set are solved only by professional military personnel," the Russian leader said.
However, the very next day, the official representative of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov, said that "several facts of the presence of conscripts in parts of the Russian Armed Forces participating in a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine were discovered." He also added: "almost all such servicemen have already been withdrawn to the territory of Russia." On March 9, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that several Russian servicemen, including conscripts, were captured in Ukraine. According to Konashenkov, the Russian Federation has taken "exhaustive measures" to prevent conscripts from being sent to combat areas.
When will the military operation end
The fighting in Ukraine will continue until the Russian Armed Forces achieve all their goals, Sergei Shoigu stressed. The Minister added that the Russian military during the special operation actively help the population of the LPR, DPR and Ukraine to establish a peaceful life. "684 humanitarian actions have already been carried out. 6,079 tons of cargo were delivered to 210 settlements," the minister said.
Sergei Shoigu also said that Russia would "respond adequately" in the case of NATO supplies of combat aircraft and air defense systems to Ukraine.
Defense Minister Shoigu in early March "disappeared from the public field," a number of media reported. This information was rejected by the Kremlin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Shoigu himself soon appeared in public. According to Peskov, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry is busy in connection with a special operation in Ukraine.
"The Defense Minister has a lot of worries right now. A special military operation is underway. Of course, now is not exactly the time for media activity, this is quite understandable," Peskov stressed.
Commenting on the information of the Agency publication that Shoigu allegedly has "health problems," Peskov said: "You don't need to listen to the Agency publication, contact the Ministry of Defense."
Reports by several media outlets about the deterioration of the health of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu were called outright lies by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with a Serbian publication.
According to him, "everyone is alive and well," the entire government and the entire presidential administration are working "in the interests of the country" and based on "the official duties assigned to them."
Peter Nikolaev