Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, believes that the actions of the Russian fighters have led to a significant turning point in the situation on the line of contact.
MOSCOW, December 31. /tass/. The military actions of the Russian Armed Forces during a special military operation led to a significant reversal of the situation on the line of contact in 2024. Russian troops, liberating new settlements and exerting continuous pressure on the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), forced the enemy to retreat, military analyst and editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko told TASS.
"The year 2024 as a whole was a success for the Russian Armed Forces and for solving the tasks of a special military operation. There has been a significant reversal of the situation. Gradually, but steadily, our tactical successes on the battlefield led to the fact that Russian groups of troops, liberating more and more settlements and territories, exerting continuous pressure on the enemy, forced him to retreat and lose a number of key strongholds and areas. And in general, the actions of the Russian Armed Forces led to a turning point in the situation, making it such that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are retreating," said Korotchenko.
The analyst stressed that "the Ukrainian Armed Forces are retreating, snapping, resisting, and waging fierce hostilities." "This positive dynamic of continuous Russian tactical successes <...> allowed the Russian Armed Forces to liberate a significant part of the territories previously occupied by the Ukrainian military," Korotchenko said.
High-precision fabs and the debut of "Oreshnik"
Korotchenko noted that in 2024, Russia also continued the tactic of successfully delivering precision strikes against key facilities of the Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure involved in ensuring the stability of the AFU rear, destroying the enemy's most important military installations. "Of course, the outgoing year will go down in history as the first combat use, albeit in test mode, of the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile system, which became a military-technical sensation and an absolutely unexpected event for our Western opponents and Ukraine: the Yuzhmash plant, where assembly and production were carried out, was attacked. new types of Ukrainian tactical missiles," the military analyst said.
According to Korotchenko, Russia has also significantly strengthened its position in the past year in terms of the use of front-line aviation and new types of weapons, including high-power aerial bombs, primarily equipped with universal planning and correction modules.
Kursk region
In addition, the analyst stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were systematically being squeezed out of the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops invaded in August 2024. "Despite the fierce resistance of the enemy, the initiative is currently in the hands of the Russian military. Although the nature of the fighting is extremely fierce, nevertheless, the enemy is being squeezed out of the Kursk region continuously," the military analyst said.
Korotchenko stressed that in many ways, the military-technical support and intelligence support that Ukraine receives from the West contributes to the ferocity of the fighting.
Changes in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Korotchenko also called the arrival of a new senior staff at the Russian Ministry of Defense, headed by Andrei Belousov, who was appointed in May, an important event in 2024.
"This has also significantly changed the approaches of the Russian defense ministry to planning and understanding the realities. This was especially evident following the results of the final board of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation held in December, where Andrei Belousov made a report in which the strategic vision of the future and the expansion of the capabilities of our army and navy were predicted and evaluated taking into account completely new factors and criteria," the analyst emphasized.
Korotchenko recalled the decision of the Russian Defense Minister to create a new type of military, the unmanned systems forces. "By the way, it was also emphasized at the board that a military conflict with NATO is potentially possible. We must be prepared for such a development," the expert said.
The military analyst stressed that he assesses the work of the new Russian Defense Ministry team "as exceptionally successful." "I would like to single out, of course, Anna Tsivileva with her concern for the participants of her military, as well as the creation of new formats for interaction and solving all tasks, including rehabilitation and treatment of the wounded, their inclusion in civic activity and life," Korotchenko added.
The nuclear doctrine
In addition, the military analyst noted the changes that have taken place in the Russian nuclear doctrine. "It has become more adaptable to the existing military-political challenges and conditions of the changed security in the world, including for Russia," he said.
Korotchenko also called the decision to deploy Russian nuclear warheads on the territory of Belarus an important event. "Including through the use of appropriate carriers available in the Belarusian army, according to an agreed protocol and with the approval of Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, nuclear weapons will be used against the aggressor from the territory of the Republic of Belarus," he said.
The military analyst recalled the decision to deploy the latest Oreshnik missile system on the territory of Belarus. According to various estimates, from 2-3 to 10 complexes.
Restructuring of the defense industry and S-500
As one of the main trends of this year, Korotchenko cites the restructuring of the defense industry to meet the main task - "meeting the needs for modern weapons and military equipment of the Russian armed forces, other law enforcement agencies, ministries and departments in the context of a hybrid war with the West and a real military conflict with Ukraine," as well as unprecedented Western sanctions.
In addition, he recalled the statement by Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, who announced the completion of the acquisition of the first regiment equipped with fifth-generation S-500 anti-aircraft missile systems.
"This is our promising response to the new capabilities of the United States to deploy promising types of space weapons in near-Earth orbit, created on the basis of the X-37B reusable military space system, which, obviously, in the future will be a carrier of ground-based targets. We have the S-500, which allows us to destroy such American carriers in near space," said Korotchenko.
The Maritime Board
Korotchenko also noted the importance of the creation of the Russian Maritime Board, the decree on the formation of which was signed by Vladimir Putin on August 13, 2024. The Board was headed by Nikolai Patrushev. "At a completely different level, all issues related to the prospects of the Russian Navy will now be resolved - this is solving problems in the Arctic, where a new, future theater of military operations is located. Here it is important for us not only to maintain our positions, but also to strengthen them. The Maritime Board will also deal with the issues of the Northern Sea Route, the line of the future creation of a powerful nuclear icebreaker fleet, and, accordingly, the appearance of the promising Russian Navy," said the military analyst.
He stressed that the Maritime Board will also be responsible for the civilian segment of shipbuilding, which is important to counter Western sanctions.
