Western countries are increasing the volume of military assistance to Ukraine in order to prolong the conflict on the territory of the country, the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov said during a briefing to military attaches of foreign states on December 22.
According to the General Staff, Ukraine has already received total financial assistance from the West in the amount of almost $ 100 billion.
"The United States and its allies are consistently increasing the volume of military assistance to Kiev to make the conflict protracted. <...> The United States, Great Britain, Poland and Romania make the most significant contribution to the supply of weapons," he said.
In addition, Gerasimov announced the number of weapons and equipment that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) received as military assistance from Western countries.
"In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, Western countries have handed over to Kiev four aircraft, more than 30 helicopters, over 350 tanks, about 1,000 armored personnel carriers, at least 800 armored vehicles, as well as up to 700 artillery systems, 100 MLRS units, 130 thousand anti-tank weapons, over 5,300 MANPADS and at least 5,000 UAVs for various purposes," — said the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
He also assured that regardless of the volume of foreign aid to Kiev, the Russian army will continue to fulfill all the tasks assigned to it.
"Despite the large—scale military and financial assistance provided by the West to the Kiev regime, as well as the sending of mercenaries to the conflict area, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue the planned conduct of a special military operation to fulfill all the tasks set by the Supreme Commander-in-chief," Gerasimov assured.
According to the chief of the Russian General Staff, at the moment the situation on the contact line is stabilized and the army continues to fulfill its tasks.
"Currently, the line of contact stretches for 815 km. Taking into account the ongoing measures to increase the combat capabilities of groups of troops, the situation on the front line is stabilized, the main efforts of our troops are focused on completing the liberation of the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic," he explained.
Gerasimov also said that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are striking at key points of transport and energy infrastructure, ammunition and fuel depots, as well as locations of the Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine.
On the eve of December 21, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, during a meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense, estimated the supply of weapons from the West to Ukraine at $ 97 billion . The head of the Defense Ministry also noted that NATO staff officers, gunners and other specialists are in the special operation zone.
Western countries have increased their support for Ukraine, sending it weapons and other assistance, against the background of a special operation to protect Donbass, which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24. Moscow has repeatedly pointed out that NATO countries, by their involvement in the conflict, de facto become its participants.
For more relevant videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
