Shoigu: the main task of the Central Military District in 2023 to disrupt the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been completed
The main goal of the special military operation in Ukraine in 2023 was to disrupt the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and it was achieved, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. According to the head of the defense department, the Russian military has seized the initiative at the front and is expanding the controlled territory. "We are consistently moving towards achieving the stated goals of the special operation," Shoigu assured. Earlier, President Vladimir Putin gave a similar assessment. Details can be found in the material of "Gazeta.Ru».
The main task of the special military operation in Ukraine in 2023 has been successfully completed, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported at the final conference call.
"Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Russian President Vladimir Putin - "Newspaper.Ru") highly appreciated the work of the leadership and personnel of the Ministry of Defense, thanked them for the conscientious fulfillment of their tasks. The main efforts in the past year have been focused on achieving the goals of the special military operation. The main one is to disrupt the counteroffensive of the armed forces of Ukraine, loudly announced by Ukraine and its NATO allies. This task has been successfully completed," the head of the defense department said.
In his opinion, several factors contributed to the achievement of the goal - an effective system of defensive lines, combat capability of units, reliability of military equipment.
He promised to remember the fallen comrades and support the relatives of the dead.
In his speech, the Minister of Defense reiterated that defense enterprises have "significantly" increased the production of the most in-demand weapons, many have switched to round-the-clock operation.
"In fact, the defense industry workers challenged the vaunted Western military-technical potential," Shoigu said.
Shoigu also noted the "unprecedented support of our people," who are "a reliable support for the fighters of the SVO."
"It was the universal efforts in the rear and at the front that helped our troops today to seize the initiative on the line of combat contact with the enemy. The Russian army is constantly taking more advantageous positions and expanding its controlled territories in all directions. We are consistently moving towards achieving the stated goals of the special operation," Sergei Shoigu assured.
Putin is satisfied
On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a positive assessment of the course of its operation, speaking at an expanded meeting of the board of the Ministry of Defense.
"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," Vladimir Putin said.
According to Putin, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are suffering heavy losses and have already squandered reserves, "trying to show their real masters at least some result of their so-called counteroffensive."
"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," the Russian president said.
Putin also outlined a number of problems: it is necessary to rebuild communication systems; use reconnaissance, targeting and counter-battery warfare more effectively; increase the capabilities of the satellite grouping; increase the production of high-precision projectiles and drones; improve the work of air defense.
Zelensky sees no prerequisites for defeat
At a press conference summing up the results of the year, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, asked whether the conflict would end in 2024, said that no one knows - "even commanders and Western partners."
"If we don't lose our resilience, we will end the war sooner. If we don't lose our spirit, we can live with skepticism, but we can also talk about the country with skepticism. I am not ready for this," Vladimir Zelensky said.
One of the journalists asked the President of Ukraine if the current events at the front were not the "beginning of losses" and whether they would lead to defeat in the conflict, he replied: "No."
Alexey Permyakov
