Published on December 21, 2023 at 07:25. / Modified on December 21, 2023 at 9:36 a.m.
“Comrade officers!” It has been more than thirty years since the Soviet Union ceased to exist, but the Russian military has still not become “gentlemen.” Vladimir Putin addressed the members of the Enlarged Council of the Defense Ministry on Tuesday. For the second time in a row, he took stock of the “special military operation,” as the war in Ukraine is still officially called. Around a hundred high-ranking officers from all army corps were present, as well as some ministers and the spiritual leader of “All Russia”, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
Flanked by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Vladimir Putin painted a particularly positive picture of the situation at the front this year. “We can say with certainty that our troops have the initiative. We do what we think is necessary. In fact, we do whatever we want,” he said. The enemy, meanwhile, “suffered heavy losses and wasted its reserves, trying to show its Western masters at least some results of its vaunted counteroffensive.” “In addition, the myth of the invulnerability of Western military equipment has also collapsed,” the Russian leader continued. Sergei Shoigu, who spoke next, said that thanks to his experience over the past two years, the Russian army had become the “most combat capable in the world.” The Russian military industry is also doing better than ever and, according to him, it produces more than “all NATO countries combined.”
Interested in this article?
Don't miss out on any of our daily content – subscribe now to access all our articles, files and analysis
Get 30% off all our subscriptions until December 25th
CHECK OFFERS
Good reasons to subscribe to Le Temps:
Consult all the unlimited content on the website and mobile application
Access the print edition digitally before 7am.
Enjoy exclusive privileges reserved for subscribers
Access the archives
Already a subscriber? log in