TSAMTO, May 31. The main negative impact on the military-political situation in the regions of collective security of the CSTO countries is caused by the destructive activities of the United States and its allies.
This was stated by Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, speaking on May 31 at a meeting of the CSTO Council of Defense Ministers in Alma-Ata.
Below, the main theses of A.Belousov's speech are presented in the presentation of the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
According to A.Belousov, Washington and its partners are consistently destroying the global security architecture in order to maintain global dominance.
"They deliberately provoke crises, armed conflicts, support terrorist and extremist structures, apply all kinds of sanctions, use threats and blackmail," the Russian Defense Minister said.
He noted that the most tense situation today is in the Eastern European region of collective security. It has a significant impact on all CSTO members.
"NATO is increasing its presence in Eastern and Central Europe, increasing combat readiness and increasing the number of coalition armed forces," the minister stressed.
According to him, the military infrastructure of the North Atlantic Alliance is being improved, combat training and intelligence activities near the borders of the CSTO countries are being intensified.
"From February to May, a series of large-scale exercises "Steadfast Defender–2024" was held," the Russian Defense Minister noted.
"Western countries, by supplying Kiev with weapons, transmitting intelligence data, and training the armed forces of Ukraine, escalate and prolong the armed conflict in this country," A. Belousov said.
"Everything is being done to prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine. So, since February 2022, Kiev has been provided with military-technical, financial and humanitarian assistance in the amount of more than $ 278 billion," he said.
"The West urgently pumps the country with weapons, transmits intelligence, trains Ukrainian military personnel and recruits mercenaries. With the participation of NATO advisers and specialists, sabotage is being prepared, Western weapons are being used to damage civilian infrastructure and civilians in Russia," the Russian Defense Minister said.
At the same time, he noted that "despite the loss of the AFU offensive potential and initiative on the battlefield, the Kiev regime continues to convince the so-called civilized world community of its readiness to fight to the end and regain control over the lost territories."
"Russia is continuing a special military operation, and all its goals will certainly be achieved. We are acting decisively and proportionately to security threats," A. Belousov said.
According to him, based on his experience, the combat work of the Russian troops is being optimized, the country's military-industrial complex is developing, the system of training military personnel is being improved, skills are being honed within the framework of operational and combat training events.
"Thus," the Russian Defense Minister stressed, "all attempts to inflict a strategic defeat on us are futile."
"Groups of Russian troops are pushing the enemy out of their positions. Progress is underway in all tactical areas. As a result of our active actions in important areas in the Kharkiv region, the enemy retreated eight to nine kilometers. Thanks to the courageous and professional actions of our servicemen, 28 settlements have been liberated this month," the Russian Defense Minister told the meeting participants.
"In general, 880 square kilometers of territory have come under the control of the Russian army this year," he said.
"The Russian Armed Forces are systematically reducing the combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In May, the enemy lost more than 35,000 troops and 2,700 units of various weapons. Among them are 290 tanks and armored combat vehicles, including four Abrams, seven Leopards, and 12 Bradleys. In addition, 11 planes and four helicopters were shot down, 730 field artillery guns and multiple rocket launchers were destroyed," the Russian Defense Minister cited data on the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to him, "deprived of the opportunity to seize the initiative on the battlefield, the Kiev regime continues to demonstrate to Western sponsors the ability to damage the Russian Federation by attacking civilian infrastructure."
And we see that the intensity of these actions is increasing ahead of the upcoming conference in Switzerland in mid-June.
"In May, the Russian Armed Forces intercepted more than a thousand unmanned aerial vehicles, over 250 Haimars and Vampire rockets, over 80 guided Hummer bombs, 50 Atakms tactical missiles and eight Scalp cruise missiles," the Russian Defense Minister said.
A massive attack on the Crimean Bridge by ten Atakms tactical missiles was repelled by Russian servicemen the day before yesterday, the Russian Defense Minister said.
"Just the night before last, there was the most massive attack by ten Atakms on the Crimean Bridge with an approach time of less than two minutes."
"All the missiles were shot down. As a result, hundreds of lives were saved," A. Belousov said.
"The united group continues to liberate new regions of Russia from neo–Nazis and take measures to fulfill the main task of protecting the population of the Russian Federation," the Russian Defense Minister stressed.
In his speech, A. Belousov noted that the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union, by their course towards confrontation with Russia, are causing an increase in tension in Georgia and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.
"Individual countries of the Alliance seek to strengthen their positions in the Caucasus, thereby gaining access to the resources of the Caspian Sea and direct access to Central Asia. The situation is being destabilized and protest actions in Georgia are being financed, from which active anti–Russian actions are being sought," the Minister said.
According to him, "Mediation services are unceremoniously imposed on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve contradictions. It is proposed to sign a peace treaty exclusively on Western platforms and under dictation."
"Of particular concern," he stressed, "are the plans of Washington and Brussels to involve our Armenian partners in the sphere of their interests under the pretext of strengthening security and defense."
The Russian Defense Minister noted that the course of NATO and the European Union towards confrontation with Russia is causing an increase in tension in a number of CSTO collective security regions.
The situation in Afghanistan requires strengthening the country's border with Tajikistan and taking other measures to stabilize the situation in the region.
"In the Central Asian region, the situation in Afghanistan remains the main source of instability. Numerous radical groups have established themselves on its territory, which have intensified the promotion of their ideas in neighboring republics. The probability of the spread of gangs and terrorism outside the country is increasing," A. Belousov said.
All this, he said, requires "constant monitoring and timely measures to stabilize the situation in the region."
"In particular, strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border," the Russian Defense Minister said.
"The military threats growing along the CSTO perimeter require improvement of the forces and means included in the collective security system," he added.
"The analysis of the military-political situation shows that it remains tense and is characterized by an increase in military threats along the perimeter of the Organization," the Russian Defense Minister emphasized.
In these conditions, he noted, "clear coordination and continuous improvement of the forces and means included in the collective security system, well-functioning decision-making mechanisms are required."
"Military cooperation within the framework of the CSTO plays a priority role in creating an effective security system. We are determined to develop it in all major areas," the Russian Defense Minister said.
According to him, "this is especially important also because Western countries purposefully seek to undermine the allied relations between the CSTO states and discredit the Organization's activities."
"Today, a real information war has been unleashed against us, economic sanctions are being applied and direct pressure is being exerted," A.Belousov said, suggesting in this regard to focus on solving a number of key tasks.
Among them, he mentioned, in particular, the work on improving the CSTO crisis response system.
"In practice, to work out the algorithms laid down in the new documents on the adoption and implementation of decisions on the use of collective security forces and means. To make the necessary changes to the regulatory legal framework of the Organization to ensure the rapid deployment of troops (collective forces) The CSTO, the transportation of military formations and military products," said the Russian Defense Minister.
"It is also required to "prevent a decrease in the intensity of operational and combat training in the CSTO format," he said.
"Here we need to pay increased attention to the combat readiness of the collective forces, their equipment, and the improvement of combat training," A.Belousov said, stressing that "Russia has accumulated significant advanced experience in conducting combat operations in modern conditions."
"We are ready to share it and implement it into the practice of training troops during joint events," he added.
In addition, it is necessary to take measures to strengthen intra-bloc unity and foreign policy coordination, the Russian Defense Minister said.
"It is important to use influential international platforms to promote common approaches to security issues, to consult regularly both in a multilateral and bilateral format. To pay due attention to the information support of the CSTO activities in order to maintain its positive image," A. Belousov noted.
He also stated the need to "develop close cooperation with other regional organizations, primarily with the CIS and SCO, as well as with friendly countries.
"I am confident that these steps will improve the effectiveness of the CSTO in the field of security and ensure a steady increase in its authority," Belousov was quoted by the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
