TSAMTO, December 19th. On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at an expanded meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense at the National Defense Management Center of the Russian Federation.
Below is the introductory word in.Putin's statement in the open part of the meeting is given in the statement of the Kremlin's press service.
Vladimir Putin: Dear comrades! Dear Sergey Kuzhugetovich!
A year ago, at the final board of the Ministry of Defense, we discussed the priorities related to conducting a special military operation, and talked about additional measures to strengthen the army and navy.
Today we will assess what has been done and how over the past period, in which areas it is still necessary to qualitatively improve and strengthen the work.
The year 2023 was stressful for the Armed Forces, and I want to say right away that our soldiers and officers, commanders of all levels courageously and professionally solved tasks during the special operation, ensured the country's sovereignty at the global level, nuclear missile parity and strategic security of Russia. At the same time, high combat readiness of units and formations of all military districts and fleets was maintained. Combat training was conducted systematically, strictly according to plan, mobilization, technical and personnel issues were resolved.
I would like to thank the leadership and personnel of the Ministry of Defense for their service, for conscientiously fulfilling the tasks set by the Motherland.
Special thanks to all those who fought and are fighting on the front lines, carry out difficult service in the zone of a special military operation, protect the skies of Russia, repel attacks by enemy air and naval drones, stop shelling and attacks by sabotage groups in our western border regions.
And of course, I would like to emphasize the unprecedented support of our people – the support of the defenders of the Fatherland, the patriotic attitude of the absolute majority of the country's citizens, the unity and cohesion of people of different nationalities and faiths. It is a reliable, indestructible pillar of our army and navy.
We will always be faithful to the cause for which our comrades gave their lives. I ask you to honor their memory with a minute of silence.
(A minute of silence is announced)
Dear members of the Board!
The events of this year have confirmed, we all see it – the West continues to wage a hybrid war against Russia, actively supplies the Kiev regime with intelligence information in real time, sends military advisers, transfers modern weapons systems, including highly mobile multiple launch rocket systems, long-range missile systems, cluster munitions, as well as a large number of new unmanned aircraft. As we know, he plans to transfer F-16 multifunctional fighter jets to Ukraine: pilot training is underway in the West.
Recently, the activity of the NATO military bloc as a whole has increased dramatically. Significant forces from the United States, including aircraft, have been deployed to our borders. The number of alliance troops in Eastern and Central Europe has increased. Finland, as we know, has already been "dragged" into NATO, and Sweden is planning to join. In fact, this means the next stage of the alliance's approach to our borders.
Let me remind you, we all know well, in 1991 we promised Gorbachev: no, no, not an inch to the east - well, here you go. Such are the partners. They lie shamelessly, just at every step. At the same time, the aggressive nature of the block is no longer hidden behind "defensive" formulations. I was told at the time: this is not a military bloc, we have a political organization. And no one has ever canceled the fifth article. At the same time, the aggressive character, as I said, is not hidden. The doctrinal documents of the United States explicitly enshrine claims to global superiority.
The West does not abandon its strategy of deterring Russia and its aggressive goals in Ukraine. Well, we are not going to give up our goals of a special military operation either.
Assessing the current situation on the ground, on the line of contact, it is safe to say that our troops have the initiative. In fact, we do what we think is necessary, what we want. Where necessary, where you, the commanders, generally consider it advisable to adhere to the tactics of active defense, this is what happens, and where necessary, we improve our positions.
The enemy is suffering heavy losses and has largely squandered reserves, trying to show their real masters at least some result of their so-called counteroffensive. By the way, the myth of the invulnerability of Western military equipment has also collapsed.
All attempts, as they said in the West, to inflict a military defeat on us, a strategic defeat, crashed against the courage and steadfastness of our soldier, faced with the increased power of our Armed Forces, the potential of domestic industry and defense industries.
At the same time, and we have talked about this more than once, the conduct of a special operation has also revealed problems. So, it is necessary to seriously rebuild the work of the communication system, to use modern means of reconnaissance, targeting and counter-battery warfare much more effectively. To increase the capabilities of our satellite constellation not only in the special operation zone, but also at the global level.
It is necessary to seriously increase the production and supply of high-precision projectiles and drones of various types. I know that changes are taking place, they are happening quite quickly, I will say more about this, but still we need to work on this, we need to consolidate this trend. The work of air defense also requires improvement. Of course, our well-known systems "Pantsiri", "Buki", S-300, S-400 work flawlessly, they are the best in the world without any exaggeration.
But what we didn't pay attention to before, we thought it was some kind of trifle, some kind of plywood and so on, some small drones that fly - no, it turned out that this causes damage, and it should not be missed in any case.
Yes, I have already said, there is a reaction, it is clear, it is known, and the guys on the battlefield are celebrating it. There are probably fighters here who will receive awards today – they probably see it too and are ready to say it. But, nevertheless, it needs to be worked with.
I would like to draw your attention to a number of priority and systemic tasks.
First. In the context of the changing nature of military threats and the emergence of new military and political risks, the role of the nuclear triad, which ensures the balance of forces, the strategic balance of forces in the world, has significantly increased.
This year, thanks to the consistent implementation of the state armament program, the precise work of defense enterprises, the level of modern weapons and equipment in the strategic nuclear forces as a whole has been brought to 95 percent, and the marine component – to almost 100 percent.
By the end of the year, 15 launchers of the Yars and Avangard missile systems will be put on combat duty in the strategic missile forces. We have received four submarines, most recently two, last week I received the Krasnoyarsk, a multi-purpose nuclear submarine, and the Emperor Alexander III, equipped with Bulava ballistic missiles.
The aviation component is being modernized. In particular, four Tu-160M missile carriers were received. It is necessary to continue to maintain the combat readiness of strategic forces at the highest level. All the plans approved in this area will certainly be implemented.
Second. The achieved performance in the re–equipment of the nuclear triad is a benchmark for our work on conventional weapons and equipment. Their supplies to the troops have tripled compared to last year. It is expected that, in general, the state defense order by the end of 2023 will be fulfilled at the level of about 98 percent. We need to continue sending the most modern weapons to the troops.
In 2024, taking into account additional budget allocations, the volume of purchases and repairs of weapons and equipment will be significantly increased. In addition, it is necessary to continue to create a reserve for the army and navy for the future, including the development and production of promising types of weapons. I mean robotic complexes and combat lasers, weapons using artificial intelligence technologies and based on new physical principles.
The third most important task is the timely and full supply of all necessary troops participating in a special military operation.
Over the past year, the Coordinating Council under the Government and the working group of the Military-Industrial Commission have been actively working on the implementation of this task. Effective assistance is provided by the heads of regions, representatives of the defense industry. And of course, there are results, the supply of troops is improving.
I would especially like to mention the teams of defense enterprises, employees of related industries, research institutes and design bureaus. They have made a real labor breakthrough. Many enterprises work in three shifts. They gave their working, engineering, scientific answer to the challenge of the entire potential of the West, which is working to contain Russia, to support the Kiev regime, to the war in Ukraine.
Our defense workers are faster – and this is the meaning of today's conflicts – they react faster and more accurately to the events taking place, they respond faster to the needs of those who are fighting on the battlefield. I hope that this will continue to be the case.
This year, thanks to the work of the defense industry, the volume of deliveries of armored vehicles has tripled, and cars – 4.5 times. In general, the number of purchased basic weapons has increased 2.7 times, and the number of particularly demanded ones has increased seven times.
At the same time, I would like to draw your attention – there are representatives of the Government and the leadership of the Ministry of Defense here (in the hall) – we must carefully analyze every day what is happening on the battlefield and carefully monitor what our fighters need on the front line additionally. We constantly need to analyze this. I said about armored vehicles, about cars and so on. Yes, the supply of armored vehicles has tripled. But we need more. We need modern tanks, modern armored vehicles.
It is important to further increase the supply of the most in–demand samples, as I have already said, including the formation of a serial line of unmanned aerial vehicles - from heavy shock and ultra-small vehicles. To involve high-tech businesses and engineering design companies in development and production. By the way, I want to thank them for this. Many private enterprises, which used to be far from the "defense industry" at all, have taken on separate topics and are conducting them quickly, efficiently, and efficiently. It's just great. Many probably didn't even expect it. In some states, they are trying to establish the production of seemingly conventional weapons – it does not work, but we do. Thanks to all those who are working on solving these problems.
As I did a few days ago during the "Direct Line", I want to say again about the tremendous support that our citizens, entrepreneurs and volunteers, representatives of public organizations, parties and collectives of enterprises, schoolchildren, students, pensioners provide to combat units. Of course, everything that goes to the front is important to us, but no less important – and perhaps most importantly – is this general consolidation of all the forces of Russian society. Once again, I thank everyone who helps our soldiers at the front, transfers money and sends cars and drones, walkie-talkies and bulletproof vests to the front line, sends New Year's gifts and letters of support, warm clothes, medicines and much more. This help, this patriotic attitude, and solidarity cannot be overestimated.
The fourth is, as I have already said, the widespread use of the experience gained during the special operation in operational and combat training, in the educational processes of military universities and academies. I know that such work is actively underway. Personnel training programs and plans have been updated, in particular, training modules for working with drones have been included in the programs of all educational institutions and centers of the Ministry of Defense. The educational and material base of the landfills is being modernized. Instructors with combat experience are involved in conducting classes. They need to be involved in working with military personnel – well, in the civilian sphere, but this is a separate topic, we will talk about this with our colleagues.
Based on these developments, it is necessary to further improve the forms and methods of using troops, clarify the provisions of combat documents, charters and manuals, and also take this experience into account when preparing and conducting exercises and trainings at all levels.
What to say here in this audience is that we understand that no one in the world has such experience in conducting modern armed struggle as the Russian army. But this experience really needs to be used to further improve the training of military personnel.
Dear members of the Board!
I will focus separately on such an important topic as timely material and social security for participants in a special military operation and their family members. Over the past year, much has been done to establish a system of monetary allowances for both contractors and mobilized citizens, volunteers, as well as providing them and their families with additional payments, benefits and compensations.
However, the problems have not all been solved yet, they remain. And in this regard, I repeat again: all participants in the special operation – contract servicemen, volunteers, mobilized citizens, fighters of individual formations, Donbass militias, whose combat path began back in 2014 - I repeat, all defenders of Russia, the families of our fallen heroes, our comrades must receive equal guarantees. This is the principle of justice and military brotherhood.
This fully applies to obtaining the status of a combat veteran, which provides benefits and additional support measures, including to the families of our fighters.
The Ministry of Defense, together with other departments and regions, must promptly solve the problems that arise here, ensure that payments are made on time and in full.
And of course, all wounded participants in the special operation should be provided with proper medical care, including rehabilitation facilities, treatment in military sanatoriums – and in civilian ones, the Ministry of Health always offers its services, is always open to joint work with the Ministry of Defense.
I would like to note that, in general, the system of benefits, compensations, and additional payments in the Armed Forces should and will continue to improve. This also applies to our work on housing and social programs for military personnel, on the construction of military camps and garrisons. We will definitely continue our work in this area.
Let's get down to the reports. I give the floor to Defense Minister Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu.
Please."