Statements by Putin and Shoigu at an expanded meeting of the collegium of the Ministry of Defense. The main thing

An expanded meeting of the board of the Ministry of Defense was held in Moscow, where Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu delivered a keynote speech. President Vladimir Putin also took part in the meeting. Kommersant collected their key statements about the army, about the special operation and priority tasks for 2023.

Russian President Vladimir Putin:

• Necessary explore experience and tactics of NATO to include them in the program of training troops and equipping the army. NATO armaments should be analyzed and used to build the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
• Russia will continue to develop the nuclear triad, this is the main guarantee of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• 150,000 of the 300,000 mobilized are now undergoing training at training grounds. The other half is in the war zone, and this enough for a special operation.
• The past mobilization revealed certain problems. To eliminate them needs to be modernized military commissar system.
• The fighting has identified issues that need to be worked on, including communications issues.
• The Ministry of Defense should be attentive to criticism addressed to it and respond to it in a timely manner.
• Everything a fighter needs must be modern and reliable.
• Experienced NWO officers and sergeants should be appointed new positions as a matter of priority.
• It is necessary to develop and use drones in the army – they must be everywhere.
• It is necessary to expand the arsenal of modern shock weapons.
• Intercontinental missiles “Sarmat” will be delivered on combat duty in the near future.
• Combat service early next year will come out frigate “Admiral Gorshkov” with the latest hypersonic missile systems “Zirkon”.
• It is necessary to saturate the troops with everything necessary, from modern first-aid kits to sights, there can be no trifles on the battlefield.
• There are no restrictions on the financing of the RF Armed Forces, the country gives armies whatever they ask.
• We we won’t do militarization of the country and militarization of the economy.
• We always considered the Ukrainian people are fraternal, I still think so. And what is happening is our common tragedy. But it is not the result of our policy, but, on the contrary, is the result of the policy of third countries.
• We look forward to constructive and meaningful negotiations with a visible, and within a certain timeframe, end result that would ensure equal security for all.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu:

• The priority task for 2023 is continue special operation until its completion.
• Russia is always open to constructive peace talks.
• Partial mobilization carried out to stabilize the situation, protect new territories and carry out further offensive operations.
• 300,000 people were called up for partial mobilization, 830,000 people working at defense industry enterprises and in other socially significant areas were exempted from conscription.
• More than 20 thousand people volunteered for the troops.
• During the special operation, more than 100 thousand people received state awards, 120 of them were awarded the title of Hero of Russia.
• More than 250,000 servicemen gained combat experience during the special operation.
• When recruiting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, it is necessary to increase the age of conscription of citizens from 18 to 21 years, and the limit – to increase to 30 years.
• It is necessary to increase the number of Russian Armed Forces to 1.5 million people, including 670 thousand contract soldiers.
• Necessary to accept the fleet includes the nuclear-powered cruiser of the Borey-A project Imperator Alexander III, as well as 4 submarines and 12 surface ships.
• To strengthen the troops participating in the special operation, the delivery of the most popular types of weapons has been postponed from 2024-2025 to 2023.
• The Russian army strikes at the military command and control system, military-industrial complex enterprises, and related facilities in Ukraine, destroying the arms supply chains.
• During the special exercise, the Russian nuclear forces successfully worked out the tasks of delivering a massive strike in response to the use of weapons of mass destruction by the enemy.