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Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation Contact us @mod_russia_en_bot
⚡️Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov: Situation in Donbass is most critical for the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The Tsentr Group of Forces, overcoming the enemy's persistent resistance, liberated 81 settlements this year, including the major cities of Dzerzhinsk and Krasnoarmeysk.
An operation was carried out to encircle the AFU Group of Forces near Krasnoarmeysk-Dimitrovsk agglomeration. During the liberation of Krasnoarmeysk, assault groups entered residential areas deep into the enemy's defences, dispersing and blocking the enemy's formations in strongholds. At the final stage of the liberation of the city, more than 900 buildings were taken under control simultaneously in several districts per day.
The destruction of the enemy units, which were blocked in Dimitrov, continues, and about half of the city has been brought under our control.
The Ukrainian command, trying to stabilise the situation and stop our offensive on Donbass, was forced to promptly transfer additional units from both the strategic reserve and other areas to the area. A total of 112 battalions have been redeployed since May of this year.
However, these measures did not help the enemy, and the offensive of the Russian troops on Donbass continues. At the same time, the AFU formations suffer significant losses.
Since the beginning of this year, the AFU Donetsk Group of Forces, which operates in Krasnoarmeysk and October directions, has lost more than 225,000 troops, 242 tanks, over 2,200 armoured fighting vehicles, 46 MLRS vehicles and about 3,600 guns and mortars. This represents almost half of all AFU losses during this period in the special military operation zone.
The Yug Group of Forces liberated 48 settlements on Donbass territory, including Chasov Yar and Seversk.
The liberation of Konstantinovka continues, more than 50% of the city's territory is controlled by Russian troops.
The Zapad Group of Forces conducted a successful operation to force the Oskol River and liberate the city of Kupyansk.
Thanks to deep coverage along the western bank of the Oskol River, 19 AFU battalions were blocked in the city and on the eastern bank. Subsequently, the assault units, acting from several directions, defeated the Ukrainian group surrounded in the city in a short time and mopped up Kupyansk.
At present, the destruction of enemy formations blocked on the left bank of the Oskol River, east, and southeast of Kupyansk, is continuing.
The offensive is developing in Krasny Liman direction. Russian assault detachments carry out street fighting directly in the city of Krasny Liman.
The Vostok Group of Forces in Zaporozhye direction, starting with the liberation of Ugledar in October (3 October) last year, conducts offensive actions practically without pause and maintains a high rate of offensive.
During the year, about 2,000 square kilometers of territory and 89 settlements were taken under control in this area.
The Vostok Group of Forces has fully liberated Donetsk People's Republic in its area of responsibility, has successfully developed offensive in Zaporozhye
and Dnepropetrovsk regions.
At present, battles are underway for the capture of a large settlement in the Zaporozhye region – the city of Gulyaypole.
The Dnepr Group of Forces, overcoming the enemy's tactical defence zone, has consistently liberated seven settlements and moved to the city of Orekhov. The offensive continues with a general direction to Zaporozhye. In the Dnepr River delta, it expands control over the island area.
In addition, the safety of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant is fully ensured.
🫡 Valery Gerasimov: In 2025, the Russian Armed Forces liberated more than 300 settlements
Despite large-scale military, technical and financial assistance to Ukraine from Western countries, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have seized and firmly hold the strategic initiative.
The Joint Group of Forces is successfully advancing in all directions, concentrating its efforts on establishing full control over Donbass, liberation of Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, as well as on the creation of a security band in the border areas of Ukraine.
In total, the Russian Armed Forces liberated more than 300 settlements, and more than 6,300 square kilometres have come under our control in 2025. And since the beginning of the special military operation has been liberated the territory with a total area of about 94,000 square kilometres.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces losses amounted to about 6,500 tanks and armoured fighting vehicles, and about 11,800 guns and mortars, and about 500,000 troops.
On April 26, the liberation of the Kursk region from the AFU was completed.
The adventurous plan of the Kiev leadership in this direction has failed, including their expectation that we will be forced to stop our offensive on Donbass and transfer part of the combat units to Kursk. That didn't happen.
Isolation of the contact area, combined with rapid counter-offensive actions of Airborne Troops and Marines units, as well as the enemy's unexpected manoeuvre to the rear of the AFU groups along the gas pipeline, ensured the collapse of the enemy's defence.
The losses of formations and military units of the Kiev regime in the Kursk direction amounted to more than 76,000 people, the most trained ones, motivated military personnel of Ukraine and foreign mercenaries. More than 7,700 units of military hardware were destroyed.
I will note separately the participation of servicemen of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in this operation.
Soldiers and officers of the Korean People's Army, carrying out combat missions shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen, during the repelling of the Ukrainian invasion, they showed high professionalism, resilience, courage, and heroism.
They also took part in demining of the territory of Kursk region.
❗️European patrons of Kiev remain committed to escalating the conflict
💬 Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation General of the Army Valery Gerasimov:
A key factor in forming the military and political situation is the crisis in Ukraine, which is taking place in the form of Western proxy war against the Russian Federation. This war is being waged by the hands of the Ukrainian people.
Ordinary Ukrainians are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the actions of the authorities due to the situation at the front, the increase in the number of irretrievable losses, the degradation of the economy, the increase in tariffs for housing and communal services, and increasing corruption in government. As a result, about nine million people have left the country since the beginning of servicemen.
Since the beginning of the year, the number of mobilised monthly has fallen from 28,000 to 14,000 people in November, which is shaping a steady downward trend in the number of Ukrainian troops.
The desertion takes on a mass character. According to official data merely up to 30,000 people voluntarily leave their place of service every month. At present, more than 160,000 criminal cases have been opened against this category of military personnel of the AFU.
The European patrons of Kiev remain committed to escalating the conflict. At the same time, their involvement in the confrontation with Russia in the Ukrainian direction creates risks of a global nature.
🌐 Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation General of the Army Valery Gerasimov about the situation in the Middle East and Africa
The situation in the Middle East remains likely to escalate further. The main factor that determines the stability of the region remains the resolution of the conflict over the Gaza Strip. We hope that the efforts made by the United States and its partners will help reduce the terrorist threat and military confrontation between Israel and Palestinian organisations.
The situation on the African continent remains difficult.
Internal armed conflicts are continuing and crisis phenomena are intensifying in almost all regions of Africa.
The main reason for the worsening situation is the irresponsible actions of the collective West, which still considers the region exclusively as a source of strategic raw materials, and the aspirations of local governments for independent policies as a threat to their interests.
📄 General of the Army Valery Gerasimov about the collapse of the arms control system
The complete collapse of the arms control system has an impact on global security.
At present, the START Treaty, which ends on 5 February next year, is nominally in force. After that date, there will be no restrictions in this sphere.
Russia's initiative to stick to the restrictions provided for in the treaty for another year, subject to similar actions by Washington, remains unanswered.
We take into account the U.S. position on the likely resumption of nuclear tests. We are committed to our obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. However, in the event that the American side resumes these tests, adequate retaliatory measures will follow.
The situation with the deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in the world is clearly illustrated by the lack of restrictions in the field of offensive weapons.
After the U.S. withdrawal from the MLRS Treaty, the possibility of deploying mobile missile systems with a range of more than 1,000 km in Europe
and the Asia-Pacific region is being actively explored. This creates a new level of instability, triggers a local arms race.
As a response in August of this year, Russia ended its unilateral moratorium on the deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles.
⚡️ Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation First Deputy Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Valery Gerasimov held a briefing for military attachés of foreign states.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🤝 Servicemen of the 27th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade (Zapad Group of Forces) provided assistance to two civilians of Kupyansk who were trying to leave the city on their own.
🎮 During a monitoring flight, an FPV drone pilot detected two civilians moving in a direction away from the city. After making sure that the UAV belonged to the Russian Armed Forces, they signaled that they were not dangerous and asked for help.
📍 FPV drones immediately delivered a radio and a note detailing how to conduct negotiations with a description of the safe route. Then they were escorted to the evacuation point.
⚡️ After arriving at the evacuation point, the rescued civilians were provided with medical care. Russian servicemen also provided them with dry, clean clothes.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🎖🎖 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 18 December 2025
Part 2 (👉 see Part 1)
↗️ The Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defence. Russian troops inflicted damage on formations of one assault brigade, two assault regiments of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade have been hit close to Andreyevka, Gavrilovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Gulyaypole, and Kosovtsevo (Zaporozhye region).
▪️ Up to 245 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and three materiel depots have been neutralised.
💥 Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on units of one mountain assault brigade and one coastal defence brigade of the AFU close to Tyaginka, Nikolskoye and Dneprovskoye (Kherson region).
▪️ Up to 70 troops, 21 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, including one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and two materiel depots have been destroyed.
✈️ Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, missile troops, and artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have inflicted damage on energy infrastructure in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, long-range attack drone teams and storage areas, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed groups and foreign mercenaries in 149 areas.
🎯 Air defence systems shot down 216 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost:
▫️ 669 aircraft,
▫️ 283 helicopters,
▫️ 103,758 unmanned aerial vehicles,
▫️ 640 anti-aircraft missile systems,
▫️ 26,591 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles,
▫️ 1,633 MLRS combat vehicles,
▫️ 31,994 field artillery guns and mortars,
▫️ 49,358 support military vehicles.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
💥 Tsentr Group's T-72B3M tank of the 506th Poznansky Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment eliminated by indirect fire an AFU assault group attempting to rotate.
📍 Grishino, Krasnoarmeysk direction
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
00:00 Artillerymen of the 27th Motorised Rifle Division (Tsentr Group of Forces) hit the AFU manpower and hardware in Krasnoarmeysk direction.
00:22 The Vostok Group's Grad MLRS crews wiped out fortified positions with the Ukranian nationalists in several areas of Gulyaypole.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🎮Unmanned Systems Forces' drone operators hit enemy positions in all directions
00:00 The Dnepr Group of Forces' UAV teams of the Novorossiysk Airborne Formation hit AFU manpower and hardware in Zaporozhye region.
00:21 UAV operators of the Vostok Group of Forces detected routes of movement of enemy' hardware and organised remote demining of roads in areas of possible breakthrough as well as neutralised enemy armoured vehicles close to Gulyai-Pole in Zaporozhye region.
00:55 UAV teams of the Sever Group of Forces destroyed an AFU Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems in Sumy region.
01:16 The Vostok Group of Forces' drone operators launched an attack on an enemy AS-90 self-propelled artillery system in Dnepropetrovsk region.
01:41 The Tsentr Group of Forces' UAVs hit firing positions and eliminated manpower that deployed in an AFU fortified stronghold in Krasnoarmeysk direction.
02:06 FPV drone operators wiped out a motor vehicle, an ATV as well as an enemy shelter with manpower inside.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
00:00 The Zapad Group of Forces' artillerymen thwarted AFU attempts to approach liberated Kupyansk.
00:20 The Tsentr Group of Forces' soldiers wiped out an AFU command post with a Krasnopol-M2 high-precision projectile in Krasnoarmeysk direction.
00:34 The Vostok Group of Forces' servicemen destroyed strongholds of the AFU in Gulyai-Pole.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
00:00 Giatsint-S self-propelled artillery systems of the Dnepr Group of Forces destroyed an AFU field ammunition depot in Zaporozhye region.
00:23 The 51st Combined Arms Army's Grad MLRS crew of the 110th Motorised Rifle Brigade (Tsentr Group of Forces) thwarted a rotation of AFU formations in Krasnoarmeysk direction.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
⚡️ Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov:
Esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich, colleagues!
To recap, all the conditions have been created to fulfill the objectives of the special military operation and to maintain the required level of combat readiness of the Armed Forces for a long period of time. The Russian Armed Forces are ready to meet all the tasks assigned by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, both in the short term and in the long term.
We will discuss in detail the implementation of the tasks in the priority areas of the Armed Forces during the closed part of the Board session.
The report is finished.
Thank you for your attention.
The creation of a unified digital environment in the Ministry of Defence.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
This year, the Defence Ministry has embarked on the process of creating a unified data platform. They have completed the development of its features, functional requirements, and technical tasks. They identified the main technology partner, Rostelekom, and signed a contract with it.
It is planned to put at least fifteen services into trial operation next year. In areas such as social and housing security, education, property management and government procurement.
Subsequently, the process of transitioning to a non-paper document management system will commence. It is to be completed in December 2027.
🪖 Sever Group of Forces creates security zone in border areas of Sumy and Kharkov regions
💬 Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation General of the Army Valery Gerasimov:
After destroying the enemy formations wedged into the Kursk region and squeezing their remnants into the territory of Ukraine, the North group of forces creates a security zone in the border areas of Sumy and Kharkov region.
Russian troops have taken control in Sumy region 18 settlements, previously used by AFU formations to prepare attacks on border areas of Kursk region.
The liberation of Volchansk and nine other settlements in Kharkov region has been completed.
Assault detachments of the Sever Group of Forces continue to expand the security zone.
Simultaneously with the operation to defeat and destroy the enemy in the Kursk border region, the liberation of new Russian regions continued.
📊 Chief of General Staff of Russian Armed Forces: West countries provide unprecedented support to Ukraine
West countries provide Ukraine with unprecedented support to Ukraine.
For example, foreign funding alone has exceeded 550 billion dollars over the past four years, of which more than 220 billion is for military needs.
The military products are most actively provided to Kiev by 20 countries. Since February 2022, the AFU have received more than 1,000 tanks, more than 6,500 armored combat vehicles, 2,000 field artillery guns, more than 200 aircraft and helicopters, about 100,000 UAVs, as well as a significant number of missiles
and ammunition.
Western curators pay particular attention to the training of Ukrainian servicemen. In total, over 224,000 people have been trained at European training servicemen.
In fact, in Ukraine, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are facing the economic and military power of the collective West.
🌐 Aggravation of the situation in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region
The situation in Latin America is developing against the backdrop of the attempt by the United States to achieve unconditional dominance in the region.
The most disturbing situation has arisen around Venezuela, where Washington has set itself the goal of removing the country's legitimately elected president from power.
In addition, actions to block maritime traffic and aviation flights in the region are carried out in contravention of international law.
The situation in the Asia-Pacific region is on a steady rising tensions trend.
It is also critically influenced by the activities of the West, which are based on the strengthening of the military presence, and the development of a network of American-centric alliances (QUAD, AUKUS, JAPHUS, Triple Alliance).
Washington does not abandon its intentions to deploy medium-range missile weapons in the region, as well as to develop a missile defense system.
❗️Under the pretext of the so-called 'Russian military threat,' the alliance significantly increased its military presence close to our borders
💬 Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation General of the Army Valery Gerasimov:
Under the pretext of the so-called 'Russian military threat,' the alliance significantly increased its military presence close to our borders.
The scale and intensity of operational and combat training continue. Measures are being taken to increase the efficiency of the deployment of reinforcement troops.
This year, a large-scale exercise called 'The Protector of Europe' was held in which not only the countries of NATO were involved but also off-block states – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, and Kosovo's security forces.
In the course of this mission, significant troops were deployed to the Russian borders, working on various options for the use of ground formations.
A Baltic Guard mission has been deployed in the Baltic Sea zone, which is aimed at impeding the movement of Russian vessels in violation of international maritime law.
All these factors do not contribute to increased safety on the European continent, which has become the scene of the West's confrontation with our country.
🌐 Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov: Collective West is the main source of increasing military threats to Russia's security
At the moment, the military and political situation is marked by increased global competition and further escalation of international tensions.
The main source of the rise of military threats to the security of the Russian Federation is the collective West, which does not abandon the assigned target to inflict a strategic defeat to Russia during the special military operation through comprehensive support of Ukraine's military capabilities.
Political statements by a number of European leaders reveal the idea of prolonging hostilities that, in their opinion, will deplete our country and enable NATO to rebuild a 'war machine' for imminent direct confrontation with Russia.
The objectives of this information campaign are to increase military expenditure and actively militarise public order in Europe.
The growth of NATO's military capabilities and activity along the Russian borders presents a long-term challenge to our country's interests in the Western strategic direction. NATO's intention to the militarisation of Europe was established during the summit in June of this year in The Hague.
The decisive pursuit by our nation of its national interests, including during the special military operation, has led to serious geopolitical changes.
At the moment, the authority of international organisations has grown significantly. Their main task is to promote equitable economic development as the foundation of a new system of global security.
First of all, the authority of BRICS, SCO, and CSTO is increasing. This fact consolidates multipolarity in the modern world. Our country's strategic partners – China and India – play a significant role in the international arena. The role of the countries of the Global South and ASEAN in world affairs has grown. Today, multipolarism has become an objective reality.
🎮 The Rubikon Centre's FPV drones hit motor vehicles, artillery guns, ground-based robotic systems, communication system elements, firing positions, temporary deployment areas of the AFU, as well as enemy UAVs in the special military operation zone.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🎮 Our drones burn down enemy hardware: Zapad Group's drone operators thwart an AFU counter-attack attempt west of Kupyansk
🎯 Drone pilots recorded movement of the AFU hardware in Petrovka (Kharkov region) west of Kupyansk.
💥 The coordinates of the targets were transmitted to the strike UAV teams, which destroyed several pickup trucks and Humvee armoured vehicles along with the personnel.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🎖🎖 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 18 December 2025
🪖 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
💥 Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of one jaeger brigade of the AFU and one national guard regiment near Alekseyevka, Ryzhevka, Varachino, and Shostka (Sumy region).
🔥 In Kharkov direction, units of two mechanised brigades of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade have been hit near Prilipka, Vilcha, Stary Saltov, Veliky Burluk, and Volchanskiye Khutora (Kharkov region).
▪️ The enemy lost up to 150 troops, an armoured fighting vehicle, eight motor vehicles, two artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, and an Israeli-made RADA radar station.
💥 The Zapad Group's units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one assault brigade of the AFU and one national guard brigade near Blagodatovka, Podoly, Kovsharovka, Boguslavka, Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, Nechvolodovka (Kharkov region) and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).
▪️ The AFU losses amounted to up to 200 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, two Turkish-made Cobra armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, two electronic warfare stations, and two ammunition depots.
📍 The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Strikes were delivered at formations of two mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, two mountain assault brigades of the AFU, one marine brigade, and one national guard brigade have been hit close to Reznikovka, Zakotnoye, Kirovo, Minkovka, Konstantinovka, and Kramatorsk (Donetsk People's Republic).
▪️ The enemy has lost more than 195 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns, including two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, two electronic warfare stations, and three ammunition depots.
💥 The Tsentr Group's units continued to neutralise the encircled AFU formations in Vostochny and Zapadny districts of Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic). Russian troops are mopping up the AFU scattered groups in the settlements of Rodinskoye and Svetloye (Donetsk People's Republic).
⚡️ Attempts of the AFU assault groups to break through forest belts from the direction of Shevchenko to the northern outskirts of Krasnoarmeysk in the Donetsk People's Republic were thwarted. In addition, 42 militants and 14 pieces of military hardware were neutralised.
🔥 Russian troops engaged manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one airmobile brigade, one infantry brigade, one air assault brigade, two assault regiments of the AFU, one marine brigade, two national guard brigades, and one Azov Special Operations Brigade close to Kutuzovka, Sergeyevka, Grishino, Volnoye, Toretskoye, Belitskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Novopavlovka, and Novopodgorodnoye (Dnepropetrovsk region).
▪️ The enemy losses amounted to more than 545 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, 10 motor vehicles, and two artillery guns.
👉 See Part 2
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🪖 Assault detachments of the Vostok Group of Forces continue to advance in forest belts near Gulyaypole, depriving the enemy of the ability to hold the occupied areas.
💥 Before launching active actions, the Vostok Group's attack UAV operators hit the enemy's positions. At the same time, reconnaissance drone operators constantly monitor forest belts, detecting shelters and movement of the enemy, as well as adjusting the actions of our servicemen.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
📆 Top News Today
▫️ Expanded meeting of Defence Ministry Board was held in Moscow under the leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin
▫️ During Expanded meeting of Defence Ministry Board, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov summed up the results of the fulfilment of tasks in ten priority areas established at the previous meeting of the Board and recorded the tasks for the following year.
▫️ Following Expanded meeting of Defence Ministry Board, Vladimir Putin presented the Hero of Russia Gold Star medals to participants in the special military operation who liberated Seversk.
▫️ The Vostok Group of Forces' units continued to advance into the depths of enemy defences and liberated Gerasimovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).
▫️ Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted fire damage on an assembly and testing centre of uncrewed surface vehicles of the AFU, transport infrastructure facilities that supported the Armed Forces of Ukraine, assembly centres of long-range attack drones as well as temporary deployment areas of the AFU and foreign mercenaries.
▫️ The Russian Defence Ministry shows the footage of a D-30 howitzer, a Fagot ATGM, artillerymen, and UAV teams in action.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🎮 The Rubikon Centre's UAV operators hit enemy hardware, artillery systems, ground-based robotic systems, communication systems, and UAVs in the special military operation zone.
➡️01:21 A Lancet loitering munition team destroyed a RADA radar near Krolevets in Sumy region.
#Rubikon
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
💥 A Fagot ATGM crew of the Vostok Group of Forces eliminated manpower and a stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine equipped in a forest belt near Gulyai-pole in Zaporozhye region.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Following the Defence Ministry Board meeting, Vladimir Putin presented the Hero of Russia Gold Star medals to the participants in the special military operation who were engaged in the liberation of Seversk
You and your fellow soldiers liberated Seversk in extremely difficult conditions by rapidly overcoming the enemy’s powerful and layered defences. <...> This is first and foremost the result of enormous personal courage and dedication of the soldiers and officers, which has opened up opportunities for our troops to advance further in the most critical areas and directions.Читать полностью…
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov on the funding issue:
In 2025, the Ministry of Defence operated within the limitations of financial constraints, related to the capabilities of the federal budget. At the same time, the conduct of hostilities has led to an increase in military spending. All of this required a strict streamlining and prioritisation of the military budget. Redesigning the internal framework for its planning and implementation.
Strict austerity measures were applied to expenses not directly related to the conduct of hostilities. Some of the expenses were postponed to a later date. The other part has been reduced. This made it possible to reduce the total amount of such expenditurea as a share in relation to GDP, from 2.7% in 2024 to 2.2% in 2025.
As for the second part of the military budget, which is directly related to the special military operation, it has increased. But there, a number of measures have also been implemented that have significantly limited this growth.
Firstly, we moved on to a budget planning system that takes into account the strictest priorities.
Secondly, a single treasury was created on the basis of the main bank, Promsvyazbank, in which all financial resources were centralised, which made it possible to ensure control over their use.
Thirdly, a set of measures has been introduced to continuously monitor budget execution with the main task of constantly searching for internal reserves.
As a result of these events, almost one trillion roubles have been saved in 2025.
In total, the expenditures of the Ministry of Defence in 2025 amounted to 7.3% of GDP. In 2026, prioritisation will make it possible to stabilised them at the same level or even slightly reduced.
Nevertheless, there remains a significant reserve that needs to be tapped in the near future.
We are talking about converting the so–called 'limit prices' of government contracts, which currently account for 60% of the current portfolio, into 'indicative' or fixed prices.
We have repeatedly approached this issue. But it was only at the end of this year that the situation began to change.
Thanks to the decision of the Government of the Russian Federation, it was possible to simplify the procedure for transferring limit prices to indicative prices based on accounting data.
As a result, in just a month, it was possible to transfer more than a third of the total volume of limit prices from limit prices to indicative prices. This saves about five percent of expenditure. Based on the entire portfolio of contracts concluded, this is about five hundred billion roubles over three years.
Esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich! The Ministry of Defence proposes, in addition to the planned resources, to allocate these savings to the purchase of high-demand armament, improving the living conditions of servicemen, and supporting industrial enterprise.
📄 In the past year, more than thirty administrative procedures in the areas of healthcare, finance, social services, logistics, and personnel management were streamlined.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The ninth priority area is the optimisation of the internal processes of the Ministry of Defence, the introduction of the principle of lean management.
In the past year, we have streamlined more than thirty administrative procedures in the areas of healthcare, finance, social services, logistics, and personnel management.
The time required to deliver the documents has been reduced tenfold. Hundreds in certain directions. For example, the process of depositing funds onto the card has been expedited, reducing the timeframe from 24 hours to just 30 minutes. And the deadline for assigning payments when transferring a serviceman to a new duty station is from two months to several days.
Next year, we will introduce the practice of 'lean management' in at least fifty more processes. In areas such as combat and physical training, transportation support, property management. This will reduce document processing time by an average of five times. And the amount and number of redundant procedures should be halved.