Tue 29 March 2022:
Russia said on Tuesday that it had achieved its main goals for the first stage of its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
“The combat potential of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been significantly reduced, which allows us to focus our main attention and efforts on achieving the main goal — the liberation of Donbas,” Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said at a meeting with senior commanders in Moscow.
Shoygu said Ukraine’s military had suffered significant losses, while Russia gained air supremacy, almost entirely destroying Ukraine’s air defense system.
He added that 123 of Ukraine’s 152 fighter jets had been destroyed, as well as 77 of its 149 helicopters and 152 of its 180 long- and medium-range air defense systems, while its navy forces have been totally eliminated.
Criticizing the West for its arms deliveries to Ukraine, Shoygu said the “uncontrolled distribution of those arms to the population and mercenaries only aggravates the situation and in the future may pose a threat to the Europeans themselves.”
On statements from the West on possible deliveries of military aircraft to Ukraine, Shoygu warned that Moscow was watching the situation closely and will respond commensurately if such plans are implemented.
Shoygu said that about 600 “foreign mercenaries” had been killed in strikes on training grounds in Ukraine over the past two weeks, with more than 500 fleeing.
Defense Minister said that the military will not send citizens conscripted for military service this spring to any hot spots.
“Russian citizens conscripted for military service this spring will not be sent to any hot spots,” Shoigu told a briefing.
The minister said that new conscripts will begin their service with vocational military training, which will last from three to five months.
Shoigu also noted that “all soldiers of last year’s spring draft will be dismissed at the end of their term of service and will be sent to their places of residence.”
Moreover, the minister ordered responsible personnel to maintain all measures aimed at tackling COVID-19 to prevent infections among military conscripts.
Russia has obligatory military service for all male citizens ages 18-27. The draft takes place twice a year, in spring and fall. The term of service for each man is one year. New conscripts receive basic combat training for a month or vocational military training from three to five months, and then continue their service until the end of the term.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:
TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent
FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE)
https://web.facebook.com/ipindependent
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
