Opening statement by Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army Sergei Shoigu at Defence Ministry Board Session

I would like to start with the situation in the special military operation zone.

The Russian groups of forces are taking active efforts to defeat the enemy.

Thanks to the professionalism and courage of the personnel of the 25th and 138th Motorised Rifle Brigades in Kupyansk direction, the Russian troops have significantly expanded the zone of control in the vicinity of Sinkovka and Petropavlovka.

As a result of effective fire, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are suffering serious losses along the entire line of contact.

More than 17,000 troops have been neutralised this month, along with more than 2,700 pieces of military hardware, including 51 self-propelled artillery systems from Germany, France, Poland, and the United States, 77 American M777 artillery systems, seven American Bradley IFVs, two German-made Leopard tanks, and one UK-made Challenger tank.

Despite the absence of any meaningful results of the so-called counter-offensive, Ukraine's Western handlers are not deviating from their inhuman principle: 'weapons are the way to peace'.

The United States and its allies continue to arm the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while the Kiev regime continues to throw untrained soldiers into senseless assaults and slaughter.

Such cynical actions by the West and their henchmen in Kiev are only pushing Ukraine towards self-destruction.

Under these conditions, Russia continues to build up the combat power of the Armed Forces, including by supplying modern weapons and improving the training of troops, taking into account the experience of the special military operation. The objectives can be accomplished if the 2025 Action Plan's activities are consistently carried out.

Moving on to the agenda, we have a few issues to discuss today.

In the course of the session, we are to consider how the system of military training for students of civilian universities is being improved and how the plans for the activities of the Southern and Eastern Military Districts and the Airborne Troops are being implemented.

A few words on each of the issues.

Since 2021, the Ministry of Defence has been working with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to establish military training centres.

Last year, 16 such units began work, increasing the number of students in military service by nearly 2,000.

We plan to open eight more centres. As a result, they will be represented in 75 regions of Russia, and their total number will reach 128.

Today we are going to assess the prospects of creating new military training facilities today. These facilities are crucial for developing the Armed Forces' mobilisation resource.

This year the Southern Military District is to implement more than 170 organisational measures, the troops are expected to receive 5,500 pieces of modern weapons and hardware, and more than 500 infrastructure facilities are to be commissioned.

Military formations and units are being manned now.

Since the beginning of the year, the number of officers in the district has increased by 11,000 people, and contract servicemen – by 30,000 people.

The combat training system is being improved, training grounds are being modernised, and new material and technical training facilities are being introduced.

Military and political situation in the Eastern strategic direction also tends to get complicated.

The United States and its allies are taking more steps to contain Russia and China on a world stage.

To increase its influence in the Asia-Pacific region, Washington has set off on the road to the development of military blocs such as AUKUS and QUAD.

To ensure constant readiness to defend national interests, the troops of the Eastern Military District are stepping up operational and combat training activities.

For example, in June, the Pacific Fleet held an operational exercise with a grouping of forces in the far maritime zone. It involved more than 11,000 servicemen, 67 ships and support vessels, 35 aeroplanes and helicopters.

In addition, within the framework of strengthening strategic partnership and expanding cooperation in the naval field, Russia and China held the North/Interaction 2023 exercise.

Russia and China employed 28 planes and 10 helicopters, along with 12 ships of various classes, including a submarine, to practise combined actions in different scenarios.

On 25 September, the Finval 2023 exercise, supervised by the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, concluded in Russian Northern East.

It involved about 10,000 servicemen, and over 50 pieces of military hardware.

During the exercise, surface ships, submarines and coastal systems of the Pacific Fleet successfully carried out joint missile-firing exercise.

The Fleet's naval aviation trained intercepting and destroying air targets of a mock enemy, as well as setting defensive mine barriers in the Chukchi Sea.

The Pacific Fleet confirmed the high level of sea, field and air training of its personnel and its readiness to fulfil its missions in the Arctic.

The Eastern Military District continues to improve the field strength, equip formations and military units with modern weapons and hardware, and build military infrastructure.

Until the end of the year, there are 26 organisational activities to be carried out, which are synchronised with the delivery of 1,200 pieces of modern weapons.

In addition, in August and September, after the complication of the flood situation in Primorsky Krai, the district's servicemen assisted the civilian population in dealing with the consequences of Typhoon Khanun.

Over 1,200 people and 50 motor vehicles were evacuated from the flooded areas, and the territory in the Ussuriysk Urban District was cleaned and disinfected.

The Ministry of Defence is implementing a set of measures to further improve the combat potential of the Airborne Troops by creating new airborne assault formations and increasing their reconnaissance, strike, and firing capabilities.

This year, a parachute and paratrooper regiment in the Tula Division began combat missions.

The formation of the 104th Air Assault Division and the Parachute Airborne Regiment of the Ivanovo Formation is in progress.

By the end of the year, a combat service support brigade and repair and recovery battalions are to be formed in all divisions of the Airborne Troops. An artillery brigade is completing the manning to full strength.

The Airborne Troops are being equipped with the latest weapons. Since the beginning of the year, more than 2,000 pieces of equipment and 5,500 sets of landing equipment and parachute systems have been supplied to formations and military units.

In general, by the end of the year, the implementation of the projects for the paratroopers should boost its fighting potential by a factor of 1.3, and its firepower by 20%.