Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that they have established two new military zones due to the increasing NATO military potential near Russia’s borders.
Speaking at a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry’s leadership, Shoigu said, “In light of NATO’s increasing military potential near Russia’s borders and the expansion of the Alliance through the accession of Finland and, in the future, Sweden, we have taken steps to strengthen military groups in the northwestern and western strategic directions. We have created two strategic territorial units for the Russian Armed Forces – the Leningrad and Moscow military districts.”
“The measures taken will significantly increase the effectiveness of command and control of troops and forces,” Shoigu said, noting that by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree dated February 26, Russia’s administrative division of tasks in the military sphere was determined, and the established military districts were assigned the relevant regions of the country, including the new regions in Donbass.
Shoigu underlined that they will continue to improve the structure and scope of the Russian army in accordance with the new threats emerging.
‘We did not allow the enemy to strengthen new lines’
The Russian Defense Minister said that after the Russian army captured the town of Avdeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), they did not allow the fleeing enemy forces to strengthen a new line and continued to squeeze them in the western direction.
Praising the activities of the Russian army, Shoigu said, “Our soldiers successfully fulfill the tasks assigned to them by showing courage, bravery and heroism.”
March 8 greetings to women in the army
On the occasion of the upcoming International Women’s Day on March 8, Shoigu congratulated more than 37,500 women serving in the Russian army:
There is no profession or field in which women cannot demonstrate their talents, skills and ambitions. The army and navy are no exception. Today, more than 37,500 women serve in the Armed Forces. In addition, there are about 270,000 women in various civilian positions in military organizations and units. On behalf of the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, on my own behalf, I would like to thank all our wonderful women, our military girlfriends for their bona fide service for the benefit of our Motherland.
