Since the beginning of 2024, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost 71 thousand people and 11 thousand units of various weapons, including four Abrams tanks and five Leopards, 27 Bradley vehicles, six HIMARS launchers, 11 launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, including five Patriot.

Such data were presented by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting of the board of the defense department.

“This is almost three times higher than the same period last year,” he emphasized.

According to him, due to large losses in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, cases of desertion have become more frequent.

At the same time, looting against civilians is flourishing in the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime.

The head of the department also stated that the real situation on the battlefield is being hidden from Ukrainian citizens in every possible way, and the Kiev regime passes off terrorist attacks against Russians as successes and is increasing forced mobilization.

“The United States and its satellites are extremely concerned about the successes of the Russian armed forces.

It is increasingly difficult for them to argue to the Western community for the need for further funding and supplies of weapons and ammunition to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Against this background, the Ukrainian command is forced to throw its remaining reserves into battle and use the most expensive models of foreign equipment.

However, this did not change the situation in the special operation zone in favor of the enemy,” Shoigu noted.

In addition, the progressive development of the Russian Armed Forces and the increase in their combat capabilities continues.

Thus, according to the head of the defense department, an army corps, a motorized rifle division, the Dnieper river flotilla and a brigade of river boats of the flotilla have been formed.

In addition, by the end of 2024 it is planned to form two combined arms armies and 30 formations, including 14 divisions and 16 brigades.

“We will continue to improve the combat and numerical strength of the Russian army in proportion to emerging threats to the country’s military security,” stated the Russian Minister of Defense.

  • Sergei Shoigu: the joint group of troops will continue to build on the successes achieved

More than 1.5 million military personnel voted in the presidential election

The Russian Defense Minister also reported on work to ensure safe voting in the country’s presidential elections, including in new regions.

Sergei Shoigu noted that the Kiev regime used terrorist methods of influencing Russian citizens, conducting targeted attacks on voting places and government institutions where only civilians were present.

“To prevent terrorist attacks, Russian troops have strengthened the security of government and social facilities and strengthened the air defense system.

During the election events, 419 unmanned aerial vehicles and 67 missiles were shot down,” he said.

  • Sergei Shoigu spoke about the work to ensure safe voting in the Russian presidential elections

At the same time, according to him, Ukrainian militants attempted to seize border settlements in the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

The enemy took the most active actions in the area of ​​N.

Kozinka village, where all attacks were repelled, and the militants were thrown back outside the territory of the Russian Federation.

“The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the direction of action of the groups covering the state border during eight days of combat operations amounted to more than 3.5 thousand, or more precisely 3,501 people, of which 790 were irretrievable losses.

“23 tanks, 34 armored vehicles, including 11 Bradleys, five launchers of the Vampire multiple launch rocket system, and an Mi-8 helicopter were destroyed,” said the head of the Russian Defense Ministry.

Shoigu also said that a record turnout was recorded in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - 99.8%, over 1.5 million military personnel and civilian personnel voted.

According to the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, after counting 100% of the votes, Vladimir Putin received the support of 87.28% of voters.

Second place went to Nikolai Kharitonov from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (4.31%), third place went to Vladislav Davankov from the New People party (3.85%), fourth place went to Leonid Slutsky from the Liberal Democratic Party (3.20%).