Straight-Talk Reality Check by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu

Remarks by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu followed Vladimir Putin’s game-changing Wednesday address.

The time arrived to “put into practice” what’s been learned during annual strategic exercises, he stressed.

At the Defense Ministry’s Wednesday board meeting, Russia’s General Staff issued instructions to implement Putin’s partial mobilization order.

Attempts in recent days by the Kiev regime “to launch an offensive in the direction of Nikolaev and Krivoy Rog” were foiled.

Ukrainian troops sustained heavy losses of manpower, arms and equipment.

The toll includes over 7,000 regime troops killed, many more wounded and nearly a thousand weapons eliminated, including 208 tanks, 245 APCs and 186 other armored military vehicles, as well as 15 military planes.

Russian forces redeployed from Kharkov “strengthen(ed) the  striking capabilities of (its) military in Donbass.”

Once around three months of training are completed, 300,000 mobilized reservists will be deployed to defend the near-thousand km line of contact between Russian and regime forces.

Mobilization will not apply to students or conscripts, only reservists with prior military experience.

If needed at any time ahead, Russia can mobilize almost 25 people who’ve had at least some military experience.

“So one could say that this partial mobilization is just 1%, or a bit more” of Russia’s total mobilization capability. 

It’s clear that what Putin and Shoigu announced on Wednesday has been planned for some time.

Shoigu stressed that it’s time to strengthen “measures to counteract provocations and illegal actions, as well as enhance the security of recruiting offices.”

Military commanders throughout the Russian Federation will now be charged with organizing “close cooperation” with regional authorities, Shoigu saying:

“I signed the directive. The tasks for all regions have been determined.” 

“(I)nstructions of the General Staff regarding the procedure of carrying out mobilization measures have been given.”

“I instruct those responsible to begin their execution.”

Operations to liberate Donetsk from the scourge of Nazified occupation “will continue…until goals set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief have been fully achieved.”

In stark contrast to all-out efforts by Russian forces to protect civilians, the regime “use(s) terrorist methods of warfare” as orchestrated, directed and controlled by its US master.

Tactics include attacks on residential area homes, schools, hospitals and other nonmilitary targets.

Cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines and other banned weapons are used, as supplied and ordered by the mother of all terrorist regimes, the one headquartered in Washington engaged in forever war on humanity at home and worldwide.

Shoigu also explained that the decision to increase Russian military strength by 137,000 forces from January 1, 2023 is to address the intent of hegemon USA-dominated Western regimes to pursue hostile actions against Russia and its allies — with intent to control them by brute force.