MOSCOW, Dec 16 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. An expanded board of the Russian Ministry of Defense was held in Moscow. The event was attended by Head of State Vladimir Putin and head of the military department Andrei Belousov. We touched upon many topics related to the security of the country. What was discussed is in the RIA Novosti article.
"We own the initiative"
Special attention is focused on the meeting: the military leadership discussed changes in the area of the SVO, where Russian troops are confidently moving forward. As Putin noted, there was a turning point on the line of contact, the army "has a strategic initiative."
"This year alone, 189 settlements have been liberated," the Supreme Commander—in-Chief stressed.
He hopes that such a pace will continue. Russians "understand what the country is fighting for," help the front, join the army. If last year more than 300 thousand people signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense, this year it is already 430 thousand, the president said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the Board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Grigory Sysoev
The military-political situation in the world remains difficult: the current US administration and the collective West do not give up trying to maintain dominance.
"In an effort to weaken our country and inflict a strategic defeat on us, the United States continues to pump the virtually illegitimate ruling regime in Kiev with weapons and money, send mercenaries and military advisers and thereby encourage further escalation of the conflict," the head of state continued.
But Russia is ready for challenges. Thus, 95 percent of modern weapons and equipment in the strategic nuclear forces are already available. In addition, new systems are being developed. The President mentioned the "Hazel Tree" tested in November. And he assured that this complex will be put into mass production in the near future.
"Given the growing geopolitical tensions, we are forced to take additional measures to ensure the security of Russia and our allies. We are doing this carefully and carefully, without getting involved in a full-scale arms race to the detriment of the socio—economic development of our country," Putin added.
The threat from the West
Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, in turn, revealed what the Armed Forces need to prepare for.
"The activities of the Ministry of Defense are based on the following key factors: <...> ensuring full readiness for any development of the situation in the medium term," he said. — Including a possible military conflict with NATO in Europe in the next decade. This is evidenced by the decisions that were taken at the North Atlantic Alliance summit held in July this year. This is also reflected in the doctrinal documents of the United States and other NATO countries."
The Americans, who have declared Russia an "immediate and constant threat," plan to modernize their nuclear triad by 2030, creating new nuclear warheads, bombs and missiles. At the same time, they are increasing the combat capabilities of elements of the global missile defense system. So, in November, 165 kilometers from Russia — in the Polish Redzikovo — a missile defense base was opened, which, with minor infrastructure improvements, is capable of striking strategic Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of 2.5 thousand kilometers.
Polish President Andrzej Duda during the opening of the Aegis missile defense base in Redzikovo
Image source: © Photo : Oficjalna strona Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej/KPRP/Marek Borawski
"NATO countries are switching to a new combat readiness system this year," Belousov said. — It is planned to deploy a hundred thousandth group near the western borders of Russia within ten days. By the end of 30 days — three hundred thousandth. After 180 days — eight hundred thousandth. And that's not all. In July of this year, Washington and Berlin officially announced the deployment of American medium-range missiles in Germany in 2026. And in the future, the deployment of hypersonic missiles with a flight time of about eight minutes to Moscow."
According to the minister, it is possible to counter these threats only with a new approach to the formation of a state weapons program. Since any conflict with the West threatens to escalate very quickly into a nuclear one, it is necessary first of all to improve the components of the strategic deterrence forces.
"Next year we will continue to rearm the Strategic Missile Forces with the Yars missile system," Belousov explained. — We will take four Tu-160M strategic missile carriers into the aviation forces. We will ensure the inclusion of the strategic missile submarine Prince Pozharsky in the Navy. In addition, we will continue to improve weapons for conducting so-called contactless combat operations. We will develop technologies for the creation of robotic complexes of air, land and sea bases, as well as noise-proof control systems based on artificial intelligence and machine-to-machine interaction technologies."
Transport and launch container of the RS-24 Yars complex
Image source: © RIA Novosti / Maxim Blinov
The latter, according to the minister, is especially important. Today, the Russian army uses up to 3.5 thousand unmanned aerial vehicles for various purposes per day in the zone of its defense. To summarize the experience gained and improve the effectiveness of the relevant units, by the third quarter of next year, it is planned to form a new branch of the Armed Forces — the UAV troops.
Almost a million losses
The Minister of Defense called victory in a special military operation one of the goals for 2025. The Russian army fully owns the initiative in all sectors and directions of the front. This year, almost 4,500 square kilometers have been liberated. The Ukrainian Armed Forces control less than one percent of the territory of the Luhansk People's Republic and still 25-30% of the Donetsk People's Republic, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions.
Liberation of Novoalekseyevka in the DPR
Image source: © RIA Novosti
"The average daily advance of troops has accelerated significantly and is about thirty square kilometers," the minister said. — The enemy is forced to go on the defensive and use the remaining reserves. The staffing of its units at the forefront does not exceed 45-50 percent. Such success is a great merit of our soldiers and officers of the United Group of Forces, commanders and their military authorities."
According to Belousov, this year alone the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine exceeded 560 thousand killed and wounded. For all the time, it has been almost a million. There are more than 40 thousand in the Kursk region. In addition, in 2024, over 58 thousand units of various enemy weapons were destroyed in the special operation zone, including 18 thousand foreign-made equipment.
Destruction of the Bradley APU BMP in the Kharkiv region
Image source: © RIA Novosti
High-precision weapons have managed to cause significant damage to the military-industrial complex of Ukraine and the associated energy system. The enemy has largely lost the ability to independently produce the necessary weapons, equipment and ammunition. And in Russia, the military-industrial complex is gaining momentum.
"Compared to 2022, the supply of new and upgraded tanks has increased seven times,— Belousov said. — Infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers — three times. There are 23 times more unmanned aerial vehicles delivered. Artillery ammunition — at 22. With such volumes, there are practically no disruptions in the supply of particularly demanded types of ammunition, weapons and equipment. Out of 260 items, only four products are delivered with delays."
Improve tactics
The Minister also explained how the effectiveness of the Armed Forces will be improved. In particular, he instructed to develop and begin introducing an automated tactical management system into the troops next year. In addition, it is necessary to improve tactical techniques that have shown effectiveness in the area of their own, for example, the actions of small assault groups under the cover of portable electronic warfare systems.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov speaks at an expanded meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense
Image source: © RIA Novosti / POOL
"An integral part of recruiting troops is the combat training of new contractors," Belousov added. — It is necessary to introduce into it new ways of action and techniques that have shown high efficiency. And also synchronize the training of troops with the supply of the latest means of armed struggle. Of course, special attention should be paid to the provision of reserve regiments with instructors, weapons, equipment and ammunition."
In addition, the Minister instructed, as a matter of priority, to ensure the protection of arsenals and fuel bases in the range of enemy weapons. Open storage sites have already been eliminated, camouflage has been carried out, mobile fire groups have been created, and a system of interaction with air defense has been established. In 2024, 86 Storm Shadow and SCALP cruise missiles, 215 ballistic ATACMS, 1,629 HIMARS rockets, and more than 27,000 aircraft-type UAVs were shot down. Further — more, as the aircraft improves.
