At a meeting at the Russian Defense Ministry, the head of the department, Sergei Shoigu, spoke about the course of a special military operation of our Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine. According to the Minister, in general, the main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed. The combat potential of the Ukrainian army has been significantly reduced, which allows us to focus our main attention and efforts on achieving the main goal - the liberation of Donbass.
Shoigu recalled the significant damage suffered by the APU. First of all, air supremacy has been won. The air Force and the air defense system of Ukraine have been practically destroyed. Out of 152 aircraft that were in the Armed Forces of Ukraine before the start of the operation, 123 were destroyed. Out of 149 helicopters - 77, out of 180 long- and medium-range air defense systems - 152. The naval forces of the country ceased to exist. All formations of ground and amphibious assault troops suffered significant losses.
"We are monitoring the statements of the leaders of individual NATO countries about their intention to supply aircraft and air defense systems to Ukraine. If they are implemented, we will respond adequately," Shoigu stressed. - We consider the position of the West, which supplies lethal weapons to Ukraine, irresponsible. Its uncontrolled distribution to the population and mercenaries only aggravates the situation and in the future may pose a threat to the Europeans themselves. The consequences of the thoughtless use of certain weapons by the Ukrainian army are manifested in various regions."
The Minister also recalled that the irresponsible actions of the Ukrainian military created a real threat to civilian shipping in the Black Sea. The installation of old mines off the coast led to the fact that some of them broke off and went into uncontrolled swimming. As a result, the Turkish military had to neutralize two naval mines off the coast of Romania and in the Bosphorus Strait.
Shoigu spoke separately about the purposeful actions of our military to track and destroy foreign mercenaries. As a result of strikes with precision weapons on mercenary training centers, as well as combat losses, their number in Ukraine has decreased. "Over the past two weeks, more than 500 mercenaries have left the country and about 600 more have been destroyed," the minister said.
He particularly noted the high professionalism, courage and dedication of the Russian military during the special military operation. Shoigu recalled: By decree of the President of Russia, the honorary name "Guards" was assigned to the 126th separate Coastal Defense Brigade of the Southern Military District and the 155th separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet.
"The Russian Armed Forces will continue a special military operation until the set goals are achieved," the Defense Minister summed up.
In order to stop any speculation in advance about the spring conscription beginning on April 1, the minister said: "Conscripts will not be sent to any "hot spots". Shoigu said that in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, 134.5 thousand people will be sent to the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies. This is less than it was in the spring of 2021.
The first dispatches of recruits will begin in the third decade of May. "Despite the decrease in the incidence of coronavirus, I ask you to continue the complex of anti-epidemic measures for conscripted servicemen," the minister ordered. He also said that most of the recruits in the spring of 2022 will undergo three to five months of professional training in training centers.
The official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov, reported the latest information about the course of a special military operation in Ukraine. In the evening of March 28, high-precision air-launched cruise missiles destroyed a large fuel base near the settlement of Klevan, Rivne region. From there, according to the general, there were fuel supplies for Ukrainian military equipment located in the suburbs of Kiev.
In addition, on the night of Monday to Tuesday, our air defense systems shot down 3 Ukrainian drones in the area of Chernobayevka. And operational-tactical aviation hit 68 military facilities of Ukraine. Among them are three control points, four anti-aircraft missile systems (three Buk-M1 and one Osa), one radar station, five multiple rocket launchers, two ammunition depots, three fuel and lubricants depots, 19 areas of concentration of Ukrainian military equipment and strong points.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a total of 123 aircraft and 74 helicopters, 311 unmanned aerial vehicles, 1,738 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 181 multiple rocket launchers, 726 field artillery and mortars, as well as 1,592 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation.
Yuri Gavrilov