“Our efforts this year were focused on achieving the objectives of the special military operation, in this case disrupting the counteroffensive loudly declared by Ukraine and its NATO allies,” the Minister emphasized.

Shoigu valued positively the actions of the leaders and staff of the Ministry of Defense and thanked them for carrying out the strategic plan of the operation.

On December 19th, Shoigu reported that Ukraine lost some 383,000 soldiers since the start of the special operation on February 24th, 2022, in addition to 14,000 tanks and armored vehicles, 8,500 artillery pieces and multiple rocket launch systems, and over 800 planes and helicopters.

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