Minister of Defense of Russia visits Russian military in places of combat actions
2023.03.04 10:36
Minister of Defense of Russia visits Russian military in places of combat actions
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – According to a statement and videos released by his ministry on Saturday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu paid a rare visit to Russia’s forces deployed in Ukraine, where he presented medals to military personnel and met senior commanders.
Since Moscow sent tens of thousands of Russian troops into the neighboring country just over a year ago in what it calls a “special military operation,” Russia’s top military leaders have only occasionally visited the front lines in Ukraine.
The Defence Ministry said in a statement that was posted on the messaging app Telegram that Shoigu “inspected the forward command post of one of the formations of the Eastern Military District in the direction of South Donetsk” during the visit.
Shoigu and the district’s commander, Colonel-General Rustam Muradov, can be seen touring a derelict town in a video that the ministry has made public. They also give medals to Russian soldiers.
He is seen leading a meeting with senior commanders, including General Sergei Surovikin, one of Gerasimov’s deputies in the Ukraine campaign, and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, in a second video that was released by the ministry later on Saturday.
Shoigu, who has filled in as guard serve beginning around 2012, has gone under unforgiving analysis over his presentation in the contention from favorable to war advocates.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group of mercenaries, accused Shoigu and others of “treason” for withholding ammunition supplies for his militia last month. Prigozhin’s group has been a significant contributor to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
