Introductory speech of Russian Defence Minister General of Army Sergei Shoigu at topical teleconference with leadership of Russian Armed Forces
First of all, I'd like to start with the situation in the area of the special military operation.
The combined group of troops continues to conduct active combat operations in all directions, concentrating its main efforts on reducing the enemy combat capabilities.
The command of the AFU is desperately send new troops into the assault on Russian positions. Thanks to a competently constructed defence, skilful organisation of the fire system, professional actions, endurance and perseverance of the Russian servicemen, the enemy advance was prevented.
A large-scale attempt by Ukrainian troops to break through Russian defences was thwarted in Orekhov direction.
The units of the 810th Marine Brigade and the 71st Motorised Rifle Regiment showed fortitude and self-sacrifice. So, I'd like to thank all of our guys again. All the guys, especially from these brigades, but from the others too, because we have not seen such an onslaught yet, but in this case everyone worked on that.
For two days alone - 26 and 27 July - more than 400 Ukrainian servicemen, 31 tanks, including three German-manufactured Leopard and two French-manufactured tanks, as well as 32 armoured fighting vehicles were destroyed near Rabotino. A total of 63 armoured vehicles were destroyed.
Using manoeuvre, counterattacks and counterstrikes, Russian formations and military units liberated from the AFU troops Kovalyovka and Sergeevka in Krasny Liman direction, as well as Molchanovka railway station in Kupyansk direction.
The 15th Motorised Rifle Brigade and the 234th Airborne Assault Regiment particularly distinguished themselves. The servicemen acted actively and manoeuvrably. As a result, the servicemen have successfully achieved the goals.
Also the 238th Artillery Brigade, the 31st Engineer Regiment, the 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment are acting bravely.
Over the past month, as a result of the successful actions of Russian troops, the enemy were up to twenty thousand eight hundred servicemen, to be precise, 20824 men and 2227 units of various weapons, including 10 Leopard tanks, 11 U.S.-manufactured Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, 40 U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery systems and 50 self-propelled artillery systems from the U.K., the U.S., Germany, France and Poland.
It is obvious that the Western-manufactured arms supplied do not lead to successes on the battlefield, but only prolong the military conflict.
Against the backdrop of the failed so-called 'counter-offensive', the Kiev regime, with the support of Western sponsors, has focused on carrying out terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in cities and towns in the Russian Federation.
Given the evolving situation, additional measures have been taken to improve defences against air- and sea-based attacks.
The intensity of the strikes on Ukrainian military facilities, including those providing support for these terrorist acts, has been increased many times over.
I thank all military personnel involved in the special military operation for the service, courage and heroism. Earlier we spoke about single feats, but today we have dozens and hundreds of worthy servicemen, soldiers, officers, sergeants, who not just honourably perform their duty, but do it in a highly professional manner. The servicemen show really the highest examples of courage, heroism and, once again, - professionalism.
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Our sailors, whose professional holiday we celebrated on 30 July, are taking an active part in the operation in Ukraine.
On Day of the Russian Navy, parades of naval, warships took place in Baltiysk, Vladivostok, Kaspiysk, Novorossiysk, Severomorsk, and the Syrian city of Tartus.
Forty-five ships of various classes and three thousand servicemen were involved in the Main Naval Parade in St Petersburg.
Nineteen foreign delegations arrived for the events.
Important events were the opening of the Museum of Naval Glory in Kronstadt and the bas-relief in honour of the capture of the island of Corfu by the Russian squadron under the command of Vice Admiral Fyodor Ushakov.
We will continue the tradition of immortalising the legendary pages of the history of the Russian Navy and preserving the memory of the valiant exploits of military sailors.
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A few words on the results of enrolment in the educational institutions of the Ministry of Defence.
This year, more than 15 thousand first-year students have been enrolled in military universities, and from 1 September they will naturally begin their studies, including in pre-university educational institutions.
Of those enrolled in universities - one and a half thousand participants of the special military operation, a lot of, and to be more precise, most of them have combat awards.
Officer training for the Armed Forces has been resumed at the Donetsk Higher Combined Arms Command School.
There has been a significant increase in the interest of young people in the educational establishments of the Navy, the Strategic Missile Forces and the flight schools of the Aerospace Forces. The competition in other higher education institutions is still as high as it was before.
In pre-university military educational institutions, the competition was up to 11 people per place.
This year, the Irkutsk Suvorov Military School opens its doors to new students. I would like to wish the officers, cadets and students success in their studies and perseverance in mastering new knowledge. And here I would like to draw attention to those who are engaged in education and personnel training, we should make maximum use of the experience of those who have proved themselves in the special military operation and, naturally, who have something to pass on.
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Next, a few words about the most significant events of the coming month.
The International Military-Technical Forum ARMY-2023 starts on 14 August. Almost 1.5 thousand enterprises will present about 28 thousand samples of military and dual-purpose products.
Heads of 108 defence departments have been invited to the forum.
Domestic military-technical developments that have been tested in real combat situations will be widely presented.
The scientific and business programme includes more than 260 events to discuss topical aspects of the development of the defence industry, military and military-technical cooperation.
The Ministry of Defence plans to conclude contracts worth over 433 billion rubles.
The XI Moscow Conference on International Security will be held along with the forum.
Its programme includes the issues of global stability in a multipolar world, interaction between defence departments of different countries, as well as military aspects of regional security in Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.
Independent experts, including from Western countries, will be able to discuss pressing issues on the agenda in the format of the ‘One World - Common Security’ discussion club.
Discussions in the roundtable format on issues of the special military operation will be held at the forum.
The Second International Anti-Fascist Congress will be held also in August on the territory of Belarus and at the Patriot Exhibition and Convention Centre in Kubinka near Moscow.
In addition to the plenary session, the sections will include a scientific and practical conference ‘Nazism in Ukraine: a view through the prism of a special military operation’.
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Now to the thematic part of our today's conference call.
At the outset, we shall first consider the construction of the Project 12700 Alexandrite minesweepers. These new ships solve the tasks of mine defence of the near sea zone.
They are equipped with the latest means of searching and destroying mines, hydroacoustic stations, a mine countermeasure circuit and robotic systems.
Today we will be briefed on how the production schedule for these types of vessels is being fulfilled.
The second issue on the agenda concerns the construction of small missile ships of Project 22800 Karakurt. These ships are capable of delivering high precision missile strikes at critical facilities on land and enemy ships at sea while operating in the near sea zone.
In July, A Cyclone serial ship of the same project entered into service of the Black Sea Fleet. Three ships are planned to be put in service of the Russian Navy by the end of this year. Two more are to be commissioned in 2024. Let's discuss the timing of the construction of ships of this project.