21.12.2022, Moscow.
Minister of Defense of Russia Sergey Shoigu delivered a speech during an annual meeting of the Defense Ministry Board in Moscow on December 21:
Under partial mobilization 300,000 people were drafted, 830,000 were exempted from the draft to maintain the economy;
More than 20,000 people enlisted as volunteers;
During the special operation more than 250,000 regular servicemen received combat experience;
During the special operation 120 people received the title of Hero of Russia, in total over 100 thousand people were awarded state awards;
Partial mobilization was carried out to stabilize the situation, protect new territories and conduct further offensives;
The West seeks to prolong military action in Ukraine as much as possible in order to weaken Russia;
27 countries have already spent $97 billion on arms supplies to Ukraine, NATO staff officers, artillery crews and other specialists are at the front in Ukraine, more than 500 NATO satellites work for Kiev;
More than 800 US spacecraft are working in the interests of the Ukrainian army;
Russia is always open to constructive peace negotiations;
The Sea of Azov has once again become Russia’s internal sea;
Strategic nuclear forces in the course of exercises successfully practiced the tasks of a massive nuclear strike in response to the enemy’s nuclear strike;
Kiev uses to prohibited methods, including terrorist attacks and contract murders, and the shelling of civilians with heavy weapons;
We have fully understood what the supposedly free Western press is all about – thousands of fake stories about the special military operation are published daily on command from Washington, using the same template;
Russia is acting to save the population from genocide and terror;
Delivery dates for the most in-demand weapons have been moved from 2024-2025 to 2023;
The Russian nuclear triad has been replenished with the first strategic bomber Tu-160M;
Military medics in the area of special operations provide first aid to the wounded in 10 minutes, delivered to medical units in an hour;
Taking into account NATO’s desire to build up military capabilities near Russia’s borders, measures should be taken to create a grouping of troops in the north-west of the country;
It is necessary to gradually increase the conscription age from 18 to 21 years, and the age limit – to 30 years – Shoigu;
The task for 2023 is to continue the special operation until its completion;
It is necessary to bring the number of Russian Armed Forces up to 1.5 million people, including 670,000 private military contractors;
It is necessary to provide an opportunity for citizens to enter military service under a contract or to be drafted from the first day of joining the army;
There are plans to put 22 launchers with Yars, Avangard and Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles on combat duty in the Strategic Missile Forces;
Taking into account NATO’s desire to build up its military capabilities near Russia’s borders, measures should be taken to create a group of troops in the northwestern part of the country.
Two additional airborne assault divisions should be formed in the Airborne Forces.
