Commentary by Russian military Journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] 1. Losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces since the beginning of the Special Military Operation - 383,000 killed and wounded.
2. Ukraine's losses during the "counter-offensive" - 159,000 killed and wounded.
3. Each of the armies of the RF Armed Forces now has a full-time reserve regiment. The Russian Armed Forces are now the most trained and combat-ready army in the world.
4. In preparation for repelling the offensive, 1,500,000 dragon teeth, 2,000 km of ditches, 7,000 km of minefields, 150,000 military equipment shelters, and 12,000 reinforced concrete structures were created.
5. The United States and NATO supplied Ukraine with 5,220 tanks and armored fighting vehicles of various types, 28 aircraft, 87 helicopters, 23,000 UAVs, 1,300 towed guns, self-propelled guns and mortars, as well as 2,000,000 shells.
6. The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in equipment during the “counter-offensive” amounted to 767 tanks (of which 37 Leopards), 2,348 armored fighting vehicles (of which 50 Bradleys), 121 aircraft, 23 helicopters.
7. The total losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in equipment since the beginning of the Special Military Operation - 14,026 tanks and armored fighting vehicles, 8,510 guns, mortars, self-propelled guns and MLRS, 553 aircraft, 259 helicopters.
8. During the SVO in Ukraine, 103 particularly brutal war criminals were eliminated. 5,800 foreign mercenaries were also destroyed - 1,427 from Poland, 466 from the USA, 344 from Britain.
9. The number of foreign volunteers wishing to join the Russian Armed Forces has increased seven times. In Ukraine, the number of mercenaries has fallen six times.
10. Over the past six months, the air defense of the Russian Armed Forces has shot down 1,062 HIMARS missiles. Air defense capabilities are growing. Electronic ones will appear next year veteran's certificates.
11. During the military military training, 272 people became heroes of Russia. 320,000 received state awards. The procedure for obtaining the status of a combat veteran was simplified.
12. Thanks to the good work of military doctors, the survival rate of wounded soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces increased manifold.
13. The pace of creation of new weapons for the RF Armed Forces reached the pace of the Great Patriotic War.
14.The RF Armed Forces are provided with artillery ammunition in accordance with their tasks. Contract workers and volunteers now receive salaries of 210,000 rubles and more. 40 billion rubles have been allocated for housing for SVO participants.
15. Since the beginning of 2023, 490,000 contract soldiers have been recruited. During the Northern Military District, 650,000 soldiers and officers received combat experience.
16.The 10th wave of mobilization is already underway in Ukraine. Limited eligible citizens are also called up.
17. In Russia, plans for recruiting the RF Armed Forces have been fully implemented by the end of 2023. The target number of 1,150,000 people has been reached. Next year the figure will rise to 1,320,000 people. Next there will be an increase to 1,500,000.
18. Two combined arms armies, a new mixed aviation corps, four divisions, 18 brigades, 28 regiments, as well as two new military districts have been formed.
19. 1,530 tanks, 2,518 armored fighting vehicles, 237 aircraft and helicopters, 86 air defense systems, 67 radar stations were supplied to the army. 1,700 crews of UAV operators and 1,500 FPV drone operators were prepared.
20.The level of modern weapons in the strategic nuclear forces has been increased to 95%. They are in high combat readiness.
More from Boris Rozhin
Putin about the progress of the Special Military Operation
1. Russia is not going to give up its SVO goals.
2. The West continues to wage a hybrid war against Russia and is building up US and NATO forces near the borders of the Russian Federation.
3. The West lies at every turn. Russia was deceived with NATO expansion.
4. The Russian army has the initiative in the Northern Military District zone. Attempts to defeat Russia militarily failed. First of all, because of the Russian soldier.
5. Fulfillment of the State Defense Order in 2023 will be 98%. It is necessary to increase the production of drones and precision-guided munitions.
6. The threat of drones cannot be underestimated. It is necessary to improve the work of air defense and improve the means of protection against drones.
7. The role of the Russian nuclear triad has grown significantly.
8. The war in Ukraine destroyed the myth of the invulnerability of Western technology. The experience gained in Ukraine must be used when training troops.
9. The military-industrial complex has achieved a breakthrough in a number of areas, purchases of military equipment for the front are growing, it is necessary to quickly respond to the needs of the active army.
10. The supply of Russian troops has improved over the past year. Volunteers help the army play an important role.
More from regnum.ru
“The North Military District has identified problems”: Putin named the disadvantages of the Russian army
The special military operation (SVO) revealed a number of problems that require solutions. Russia must increase the production of drones and satellites, improve air defense, and rebuild the communications system, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 19, speaking at a board of the Ministry of Defense.
“We have talked about this more than once; the conduct of the SVO revealed problems. Thus, we need to seriously restructure the operation of the communications system, use modern means of reconnaissance, target designation and counter-battery warfare much more efficiently, and increase the capabilities of our satellite constellation - not only in the Northwestern Military District zone, but also at the global level,” Putin emphasized.
He added that it is necessary to seriously increase the production and supply of high-precision projectiles, as well as various types of drones. There are changes in this area, and they are quite rapid, but this trend needs to be consolidated.
The air defense system also requires improvement, the Russian leader noted, emphasizing that the domestic Pantsir, Buk, S-300 and S-400 systems operate flawlessly and, without any exaggeration, are the best in the world.
According to him, it is impossible to miss “some small drones”, flying “plywood”, which had not been paid attention to before. This is damaging; it is unacceptable to consider drones as some kind of trifle.
THE ARMY AND NAVY NEED A FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE
The head of state noted that the expected completion of the state defense order by the end of 2023 will be at the level of 98%. He emphasized that it is necessary to continue sending the most modern weapons to the troops, as well as create a foundation for the future for the army and navy. Putin explained that he was talking about the development and serial production of promising types of weapons.
“I mean robotic systems and combat lasers, weapons using artificial intelligence technologies and based on new physical principles,” the president explained.
One of Putin’s priority and systemic tasks is the timely and complete supply of everything necessary to the military personnel participating in the Northern Military District. He stated that the supply of Russian troops is improving, including thanks to the real labor breakthrough made by teams of defense enterprises and design bureaus.
LABOR BREAKTHROUGH
Russian defense industry workers respond faster and more accurately to current events and to the needs of combatants, the Russian leader said. He said that in 2023, the volume of supplies of armored vehicles increased threefold, cars - 4.5 times, and in general the number of purchased main types of weapons increased by 2.7 times, especially in demand - seven times.
At the same time, Putin called on the government and the Ministry of Defense to analyze the situation on the battlefield every day and carefully monitor what additional soldiers on the frontline need.
“I said about armored vehicles, cars and so on. Yes, the supply of armored vehicles has tripled. But more is needed. We need modern tanks, modern armored vehicles,” the president emphasized.
PROBLEMS WITH PAYMENTS FOR SVO PARTICIPANTS
The head of state stated that problems still remain in such an important area as material and social security for the participants of the Northern Military District and their families. Over the past year, much has been done to establish a system of monetary allowances, provide additional payments, benefits and compensation.
“At the same time, the problems have not all been solved; they remain,” Putin said.
He emphasized that all participants in the special operation - contract soldiers, volunteers, mobilized citizens, fighters of individual formations, Donbass militias - should receive equal guarantees. This is the principle of justice and military brotherhood.
Putin called on the Ministry of Defense and other departments, regional authorities to promptly solve problems with payments, provide them in a timely manner and in full.
Injured SVO participants should receive proper treatment, he added, and in general the system of benefits, compensation, and additional payments should be improved. Putin promised that work will continue on housing and social programs for military personnel, on the arrangement of military camps and garrisons.