Vladimir Putin explained the pace of the special military operationRussia is not going to unwind the flywheel of the Ukrainian conflict and seeks to end it.
This was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 22. On the same day, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspected the units of the Russian Federation in the zone of the military special operation. The front line is now stabilized and the main efforts of the army are aimed at liberating the DPR, said Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. This statement confirms that the final liberation of Donbass will be the next stage of the SVO, experts interviewed by Izvestia note.
Russia will "click"
Vladimir Putin announced Russia's desire to end the conflict in Ukraine after a meeting of the State Council.
— Our goal is not to spin the flywheel of a military conflict, but on the contrary, to end this war. We strive for this and we will strive for it. We will strive to ensure that this is completed, and the sooner the better," the president said.
He also commented on the pace of the special military operation.
— Well, as for what is happening and how, I have already said many times: the intensification of hostilities leads to unjustified losses, the chicken pecks grain by grain, — the head of state reminded.
Meeting of the State Council on the implementation of Youth Policy in modern conditions
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Kristina Kormilitsyna
According to the President, the military resources of the NATO countries are not on the verge of exhaustion, but the Soviet stocks of weapons from the countries that were previously part of the Warsaw Pact are running out.
— We practically knocked everything out there, burned it. There are several dozen armored vehicles there. Well, hundreds. On this scale. Knocked out a lot, it's true. And this technique is close to exhaustion," the commander—in-chief said.
The President also noted that the supply of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine is a prolongation of the conflict.
— This is a fairly old system. It doesn't work like, say, our S-300. Nevertheless, those who oppose us proceed from the fact that this is supposedly a defensive weapon. Well, we'll just keep that in mind. And there will always be an antidote," the president added, noting that Russia will "snap" American complexes.
The mood is combative
Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu on this day inspected the units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the zone of the military special operation.
The head of the department listened to the commanders and visited the positional areas of military units. He paid special attention to the organization of providing troops in the field. I checked the conditions of accommodation, the quality of heating of personnel, as well as cooking and eating places.
On the front line, Sergei Shoigu talked with the military personnel of the group and thanked the personnel for the exemplary performance of tasks during the special military operation. After inquiring about the mood of the soldiers, I received a clear answer: "Combat!"
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) during an inspection of the Russian Armed Forces group in the special operation zone
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
The head of the medical service of the regiment reported to the Minister on the organization of medical support for military personnel in a field-equipped medical unit, as well as stocks of medicines
Before leaving, the head of the Russian military department congratulated the servicemen on the upcoming New Year and said goodbye:
— Don't fuss, calm down, everything is fine!
— The minister and I, we don't fuss! — they answered him.
815 km
Now the front has been stabilized and the main efforts of the Russian Armed Forces are aimed at completing the liberation of the territory of the DPR. This was announced at a briefing to the military attaches of foreign states by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the first Deputy Minister of Defense, Army General Valery Gerasimov.
— Currently, the line of contact stretches for 815 km, — he said.
Valery Gerasimov confirmed that the second phase of the special military operation should end with the liberation of Donbass, military expert Alexei Leonkov believes.
— To solve this problem, the number of mobilized is excessive, — he noted. — Now the main fighting is going on in the Donbass. There, the enemy is trying to stay in the fortified areas at any cost, regardless of losses. Its parts are drained of blood. However, not everything needs to be taken head-on, for this there are several options for conducting a winter campaign, which were reported to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief when he visited his headquarters.
We will have to liberate not only part of the DPR, but also the territories of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, Alexey Leonkov reminded.
Russian military personnel
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
"Intense fighting needs to be transferred there," he said.
Valery Gerasimov also said that as part of the operation, more than 1,300 critical objects were hit by high-precision long-range missiles. This made it possible to significantly reduce the combat potential of the VFU, disrupt the command and control system, paralyze the work of the military-industrial complex, and significantly complicate military transportation.
— Hypersonic weapons have been used for the first time in combat conditions. The Dagger aviation missile system has shown high efficiency and invulnerability against air defense systems deployed in Ukraine," the general noted.
Operational-tactical and army aviation, making about 150 sorties every day, destroyed more than 11 thousand units of weapons and equipment of the VFU. With the help of UAVs, about 8 thousand objects were opened and more than 600 objects were destroyed.
The Chief of the General Staff noted that the United States and its allies are consistently increasing the volume of military assistance to Kiev in order to prolong the conflict. The total foreign financial assistance to Ukraine has reached almost $100 billion.
In total, since the beginning of the SVO, Western countries have handed over to Kiev four aircraft, more than 30 helicopters, more than 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, more than 5,300 MANPADS and at least 5 thousand UAVs, the general said.
Minus two planes and a helicopter
On December 22, the Defense Ministry told the details of the battles with Ukrainian formations in the zone of the special operation.
— Up to 15 Ukrainian servicemen and two cars were destroyed in the Kupyansk direction as a result of the defeat on the accumulations of manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of the settlements of Kucherovka of the Kharkiv region and Novoselovskoye of the Luhansk People's Republic, — said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
In the Krasnolimansky direction, enemy units concentrated in the areas of Sergeyevka in the LPR and Teren in the DPR were hit. The losses of Ukrainian formations during the day here amounted to more than 20 servicemen killed and wounded, two armored vehicles and three pickups.
In Donetsk, Russian troops continued their offensive actions. During the day, up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and five cars were destroyed.
VFU units were defeated in the South Donetsk direction, two VFU sabotage groups were also destroyed. In just a day, up to 30 servicemen, two armored combat vehicles and three pickups were destroyed in this direction.
Serviceman of the artillery calculation of the howitzer "Hyacinth" of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
Operational-tactical, army aviation, missile troops and artillery of Russia hit the M777 artillery systems repair point, three ammunition depots, an electronic warfare station, 57 artillery units in firing positions and 93 troop concentration areas. During the counter-battery struggle, two missile strikes were carried out on the firing positions of the Ukrainian multiple launch rocket systems "Grad" and "Smerch" in the areas of the settlements of Berdych and Krasnoarmeysk in the DPR.
Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down two MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force in the areas of the settlements of Shevchenko and Bogatyr, as well as a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter in the area of the settlement of Dobropole in the DPR. The Russian Air Defense forces shot down three drones and two HIMARS multiple rocket launchers in the areas of Popasnaya and Baranikovka settlements of the Luhansk People's Republic during the day.
In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 350 aircraft, 188 helicopters, 2,694 unmanned aerial vehicles, 399 anti—aircraft missile systems, 7,191 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 934 multiple rocket launchers, 3,700 field artillery and mortars, as well as 7707 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, Igor Konashenkov listed.
50 firing tasks
The Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in the battles.
The unit of Private Alexander Mandazhi held the defense in one of the tactical directions. Advancing, the Ukrainian nationalists conducted artillery and mortar fire on our positions. As part of the crew of the combat vehicle of the multiple launch rocket system, Alexander suppressed the enemy's artillery positions, destroyed five pieces of equipment and a large number of militants.
The competent and professional actions of Private Alexander Mandazhi significantly reduced the combat capabilities of the enemy and contributed to the retention of strategically important positions, the military department said.
During the offensive, Sergeant Kirill Chudinov hit Ukrainian nationalist targets with artillery fire. His unit operated in conditions of fierce enemy resistance, which used barrel, rocket artillery and attack drones.
During the fighting, Kirill completed more than 50 firing tasks, destroying a battery of enemy multiple rocket launchers, firing positions of howitzers, mortars, as well as a large number of nationalists, which allowed to inflict significant losses to the militants and dislodge them from their positions, the military department said.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Fedorov
