Russia is preparing to accelerate war with Ukraine in 2024. Moscow's “plan” is being explained by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as the conflict on the ground approaches the two-year mark. The fighting continues particularly on the Eastern Front, where the picture does not seem to be expected to change significantly.
Russia's goal is to maintain the strategic initiative in Ukraine within a seemingly blocked framework: Moscow will concentrate on comprehensively supplying its armed forces.
Shoigu emphasized in a conference call with senior military leaders that Moscow would maintain its nuclear triad (land-based missiles for long-range targets, submarine-launched missiles and aircraft-launched nuclear bombs) and develop the production of drones and introduce new weapons – which require the use of weapons based on artificial intelligence – and will increase the capabilities of their satellites. With this strategy, Russia wants to change the situation in a war in which, according to Moscow, Ukraine has lost over 215,000 soldiers and 28,000 vehicles, equipment and equipment.
“Despite the exhaustion of human resources and the lack of results on the battlefield, the United States cold-bloodedly seeks to realize its global leadership ambitions at the expense of Ukrainian lives. At the direction of Western sponsors, the Kiev regime continues to send its targeted soldiers for slaughter and is looking for every opportunity to replenish the army. Of course, this will not change the situation on the line of contact, but will only prolong the military conflict,” says Shoigu.
A key task for 2024 is to keep the nuclear triad at the highest level of combat readiness, the minister said. “We will also focus our efforts on fully supplying the troops involved in the special military operation. We will continue to equip the Army and Navy with the most modern weapons, including those based on artificial intelligence technologies and new physical principles.” In particular, we will launch mass production of unmanned aerial vehicles, from ultra-small drones to heavy attack drones,” specified he.
“Our immediate plans include improving communications systems, increasing efficiency in the use of modern reconnaissance means, target detection and increasing the capabilities of our air defense systems and our satellite fleet,” he says again.
In a telephone conference with the leadership of the Russian Armed Forces, Shoigu argued that Kiev's search for ways to replenish the ranks of the Ukrainian army will only prolong the military conflict: “At the instigation of Western countries, the Kiev regime continues to lead its soldiers for slaughter and is looking for after every opportunity to replenish the ranks of the Ukrainian army. Of course, this will not change the situation on the military line of contact and will only prolong the conflict. “Despite the depletion of human resources in Ukrainian formations and the lack of results on the battlefield, the United States is trying to realize its global leadership ambitions at the expense of the lives of Ukrainians.”
Everything going smoothly for Russia? No, on the contrary. Shoigu's narrative is contrasted with the analysis of British military intelligence. London emphasizes that the Russian war machine has more than one flaw, particularly in this last period, “the ineffectiveness of Russian air defenses in protecting key sites” stands out, as demonstrated by the December 4 Ukrainian attacks against Sevastopol and Saki airfield the occupied Crimea.
These attacks likely “reduced the effectiveness of Russian air defense over the Crimean region,” according to the daily bulletin on the war in Ukraine. “In response, Russia launched multiple missile strikes across Ukraine on January 8, targeting several cities, including Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia. This shows once again how ineffective Russian air defense is in protecting key locations despite its increased readiness. The scale of Russian air defense. “The response is likely an indication of the success of the actions of the Ukrainian armed forces on January 4,” concludes British military intelligence.