At the board of the Ministry of Defense, Putin and Shoigu summed up the results of the outgoing year and decided on the near futureRussian President Vladimir Putin held an expanded meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense on December 21, at which the results of the activities of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the outgoing year were summed up and tasks for the next one were set.
Details are in the material of Izvestia.
What did the president say about his
Vladimir Putin once again stressed that all the tasks of the SVO will be fulfilled, no matter what, the safety of Russian citizens will be ensured in all territories. He noted that the military potential of almost all NATO countries is now being used against Russia. It is necessary to carefully study and analyze the means used by the enemy, which will increase the combat capabilities of our troops.
Russian President Vladimir Putin at an expanded meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Sergey Fadeichev
The President thanked the soldiers and officers who take part in the special operation to liberate Donbass, and offered to honor the memory of the fallen soldiers with a minute of silence. During the special operation, more than 100 thousand people received state awards, 120 — the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
What tasks are assigned to the military
During the collegium, the Head of State set a number of tasks for the military. He instructed to increase the combat capabilities of the aerospace forces, analyze the experience and tactics of NATO and include them in the program of training troops and equipping the army. The combat experience gained during the special operation should be promptly systematized and included in the training programs of personnel and training of troops.
The President also noted the need to modernize the system of military commissariats and stated that officers and sergeants who proved themselves during the special operation should be appointed to new positions as a matter of priority, be the first personnel reserve when entering military universities and academies.
The Government, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, heads of regions, representatives of the defense industry and other departments should work in close contact with each other within the framework of a specially created coordination council.
How was the mobilization and what will happen next
According to the President, 300 thousand people have been drafted into the ranks of the armed forces, as planned. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that more than 20 thousand volunteers also arrived in the troops, who did not wait for summonses. Some of them are already in the combat zone, 150 thousand people are still being trained at military training grounds. The President stressed that "this is a sufficient reserve for conducting an operation."
Military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
According to Shoigu, more than 830 thousand employees of enterprises of the military-industrial complex and socially significant spheres were released from mobilization. He noted that the mobilization system was not fully adapted to the new economic relations and certain difficulties arose with its beginning, so "all the shortcomings had to be corrected on the go."
In the future, the conscripts should be replaced by contractors. According to Shoigu, it is necessary to increase the number of military personnel under the contract, taking into account the replacement of mobilized citizens in the groups of troops and the recruitment of new formations by the end of the year to 521 thousand people.
How is the special operation being conducted now
The Russian armed forces, according to Shoigu, continue to strike with precision weapons at Ukrainian military control systems, destroy military enterprises and destroy the supply chains of weapons coming from Western countries.
How do doctors work in the area of their
During the current special operation, Russia managed to achieve the lowest mortality rate in the history of military medicine, the head of the Defense Ministry said. Doctors provide first aid to the wounded in 10 minutes and deliver them to medical units within an hour, and to military hospitals — within the first day. He also said that in pursuance of the President's instructions, the implementation of the program for the modernization of military healthcare for the period up to 2027 has begun.
Photo: RIA Novosti
Image source: iz.ru
What worries Moscow
Moscow is alarmed by the build-up of NATO's military presence near the Russian borders, as well as the West's desire to prolong the conflict in Ukraine as much as possible.
In addition, the head of the Defense Ministry stressed that the Ukrainian authorities resort to prohibited methods of confrontation, such as terrorist attacks, contract killings and shelling of civilians with heavy weapons. At the same time, the West does not pay attention to nuclear blackmail, provocations on the NPP, information about the preparation of a "dirty nuclear bomb".
Is Moscow ready for negotiations
Shoigu stressed that Russia is always ready for constructive peace talks, since it has not become the source of the Ukrainian conflict. He recalled that the reason for the armed confrontation in the Donbass was the Western-funded coup in Kiev in 2014, which brought anti-Russian forces to power and divided fraternal peoples.
What are the Defense Ministry's plans for 2023
The head of the Ministry announced his intention to continue conducting a special military operation in 2023 until the tasks are fully completed. Shoigu also called for the creation of a grouping of troops in the north-west of Russia, explaining the need for NATO expansion. We are talking about the creation of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts. In addition, it is necessary to "form three motorized rifle divisions, including as part of combined-arms associations in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, as well as an army corps in Karelia" and "reorganize seven motorized rifle brigades into motorized rifle divisions in the Western, Central, Eastern military districts and the Northern Fleet," in addition to form airborne troops two amphibious assault divisions.
Also, the Minister of Defense proposed to gradually increase the age of conscription of citizens from 18 to 21 years when recruiting the armed forces, and raise the age limit to 30 years. According to him, it is necessary to provide an opportunity to conclude a contract at will from the first day of joining the service.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Kirill Norton
Image source: iz.ru
Shoigu said that next year the Russian Navy will include the Borei-A nuclear-powered submarine project "Emperor Alexander III", as well as four submarines and 12 surface ships. In addition, it is planned to put 22 launchers with intercontinental ballistic missiles "Yars", "Avangard" and "Sarmat" on combat duty in the strategic missile forces, and to accept three strategic missile carriers Tu-160M as part of the aviation strategic nuclear forces.
The Minister of Defense announced the need to increase the supply of Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic missile systems and conduct maneuvers of the Zapad-2023 troops.
According to the Russian president, the Ministry of Defense understands all the advantages of the Russian Armed Forces and sees what needs to be done to improve them: the development of the army will take place "calmly" and without "any fuss", without repeating the mistakes of the past and destroying its own economy, the authorities do not intend to act to the detriment of people and the country.
Andrey Buzykin
