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Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation Contact us @mod_russia_en_bot
🏗 The amount of construction in progress has been reduced by 15%.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The eighth priority area is to increase the efficiency of construction and property complexes.
In terms of construction, our focus was on completing key projects, minimising ongoing construction, and establishing a new framework for the military construction sector.
Firstly, an extensive inventory work on ongoing construction projects has been conducted.
This has allowed the military construction sector to focus its efforts on reducing the number of unfinished projects.
Secondly, we implemented a three-year construction plan, which allowed us to reallocate budget resources. They are intended for the commissioning of priority facilities.
Thirdly, we have streamlined the process for transferring completed construction projects. The number of untransmitted facilities built over the previous five years has been reduced fourfold.
Fourth, as a result of a comprehensive review of the contract portfolio, those that were deemed inappropriate for further execution were terminated. This made it possible to free up about 66 billion roubles, a quarter of the Ministry of Defence's annual construction volume.
Thanks to the measures taken, the amount of construction in progress has been reduced by 15%.
Next. In accordance with the task set out at the previous meeting of the Board, the first stage of the transition to a new model of the military-construction complex has been completed. The groundwork has been established for the distribution of authority and duties among various governmental entities. The Main Directorate of Capital Construction has been formed. Relevant detachments have established in the military districts and branches and types of the Armed Forces
In the coming year, it is imperative to establish a regulatory and legal framework for the establishment of military construction units. To fill the ranks of the newly established military construction units. The commanders will have an effective tool for building the most important facilities for the needs of the troops.
In terms of the property assets, the work was primarily aimed at restoring order in the accounting of real estate.
An inventory of 449,000 objects has been carried out and a real estate accounting system based on their passports has been created.
During the inventory, unrecorded objects worth about five billion roubles were detected.
Next year, we will have to provide automated data exchange with Rosreestr and the Federal Tax Service. This will significantly increase the transparency of real estate transactions.
Furthermore, a single corporate treasury has been created in order to increase the transparency of the operations of subordinate organisations. Banking support for transactions in the accounts of all active organisations of the Ministry of Defence have been introduced. Control over the conclusion of significant transactions by subordinate organisations has been established.
In the coming year, it is essential to establish a corporate framework for key performance metrics for their operations, serving as the foundation for managers' awarding.
🤝 The important priority is to develop a feedback system with servicemen.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The sixth priority area of the Ministry of Defence is the development of a feedback system with servicemen.
The fundamental approach is to treat every complaint from a serviceman and his family as a matter that must be addressed promptly and efficiently.
What has already been done?
A hotline was launched and digital feedback mechanisms were introduced at the Military Social Centre.
The serviceman's personal account has been updated, and in essence, a new account has been created. Within it, servicemen and their families can not only submit a request but also track its progress.
An assessment of the quality of the feedback operation has been introduced. For this purpose, it is proposed that the solution of a matter will be evaluated by the servicemen themselves, using a five-point scale, based on the results of solving their problem.
As a result, there are practically no unanswered appeals in the central military command bodies. In 2024, there were several thousand of them. Simultaneously, the frequency of repeated appeals decreased by 50%.
By the end of the year, we will adopt standardised regulations that are mandatory for all military authorities.
In the coming year, it is essential to establish a system of motivation of military command bodies for promptly and fully resolution of the servicemen' concerns raised in their appeals.
The hotline will continue to be developed. It will operate 24/7. The response time for operators will be reduced by half.
👨👩👧👦 The focus is on a serviceman: a new approach to payments and benefits.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The fifth priority direction is the social welfare of military personnel and their families.
Here, we have completely revised our previous strategy, prioritising the needs of the servicemen. This has greatly simplified and expedited the process of receiving cash payments and social benefits.
As for cash payments.
We have completely ceased the process of issuing more than half a million orders for the payment of monetary allowances. This allowed for a significant reduction in the time needed to process individual payments to servicemen, resulting in a twofold or more decrease.
The streamlined process of document processing and changes in institutional arrangements have resulted in a significant reduction in the time required to distribute cash reward for active combat operations to the recipients. The timeframe for this has been compressed from three months to just three days.
As for receiving benefits.
Since the beginning of this year, the servicemen have been able to receive confirmation of their involvement in military operations within just a few minutes. The next step involves receiving benefits without the need for documentation and in a pro-active manner. This means that military personnel and their families will be automatically informed about the benefits they are eligible for.
This year, we have already implemented this procedure in the area of tax exemption. In the coming year, we will ensure that at least 90% of the most sought-after benefits will be provided through the Gosuslugi service or multifunctional centres.
As for providing permanent housing, the trend of decreasing the number of people on waiting lists has been maintained this year. It has been reduced by a thousand and two hundred people.
We increased the transparency of the distribution of housing. The servicemen were able to track the progress of their queue on the website of the Ministry of Defence.
As for service housing. Nearly seventeen thousand servicemen have been provided with service housing this year. Additionally, the service fund has been replenished with over one thousand and five hundred apartments due to the completion and renovation of previously unfinished residential structures.
🎮 Paying special attention to pre-subscription training.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
In order to improve the management of the development of the military education system, the Department of Military Education has been restored in the structure of the central military command bodies. An expert council has also been created. It includes representatives of the types and branches of the troops, military command and control bodies, and heads of military and civilian universities.
Another important point to pay special attention to pre-subscription training. The Volunteer Society for the Assistance to the Army, Aviation, and Navy (DOSAAF) plays a key role here. This year, they rebooted it.
We have clarified the goals and objectives of society by linking them to the training tasks of the Armed Forces. We reviewed the functioning of the DOSAAF regional offices of the with a view to increasing their autonomy and responsibility, as well as organising interaction with the military district commands.
The military accounting specialisations in which training is conducted have been redesigned. We have introduced eight additional specialisations in training for UAV pilots, ground-based robotic systems operators, and others. This year, in total, more than 27,000 recruits have been trained in 20 specialisations. Next year, the number of specialisations is to be increased to 30.
🔌 The main trend in modernising the Armed Forces in the long term is widespread introduction of innovative technologies.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The most important issue is equipping the Armed Forces with modern weapons and hardware. This year, the parameters of the State Arms Programme for 2027-2036 (SAP-36) were finalised.
The new SAP-36 is based on four basic principles.
The first one is a clear prioritisation.
Weapons that will determine the future promising appearance of the Armed Forces are classified as high-priority systems. These are strategic nuclear forces, space assets, air defence systems, communication means, electronic warfare and control systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and robotic systems, as well as weapons based on fundamentally new technologies, including artificial intelligence. High-priority systems account for almost half of all SAP costs.
Secondly, the SAP creation is based on the requirements of the Armed Forces' future combat capabilities, and not on the number of weapons and hardware. For example, in the area of strategic nuclear forces, the priority is the ability to overcome the missile defence of a potential enemy. In the area of air defence, the priority is to repel air attack. In the area of space forces, the priority is to provide detailed reconnaissance, high-speed communications, and navigation data for the use of high-precision weapons.
The third principle is to synchronise the execution of development work, purchases of weapons and equipment, and creation of infrastructure. Such approach makes it possible to plan not only the supply of certain types of weapons, but also their entire life cycle, from creation to disposition.
The fourth principle is to take into account the increase in the productivity of the defence industry enterprises in the SAP formulation. It is assumed that due to the increase in labour productivity, costs will be reduced by at least one to two percent per year, which will have a positive impact on contract prices and cost savings.
The main trend in modernising the Armed Forces in the long term is widespread introduction of innovative technologies.
The key task is to put innovation on stream. To this end, the input vortex of their search and deployments, including the civil sphere, will be significantly expanded. It is necessary to develop a unified system for selecting promising areas of research determined by the nature of warfare in the future. It should bring together industrial enterprises, university science, institutions of innovative development, and small high-tech enterprises of the 'People's Defence Industry'.
To this end, next year, a special project office will be set up to manage the life cycle of innovative projects based on the Era military innovative technopolis.
Particular attention must be paid to the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies in the troops.
This will make it possible to improve the effectiveness of the conduct of military operations and the speed with which decisions are taken by commanders at all levels.
This year, supplies of unmanned aerial vehicles with artificial intelligence elements – with automatic target retention and autonomous navigation – have already begun. Next year, we will increase their volume severalfold.
In addition, in 2026, a recommendatory decision-making support system at the tactical level will be tested by commanders in combat operations of the troops. We will also introduce a system of air defence, anti-missile defence, and counter-battery warfare simulations.
🎯 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are ahead of the enemy in the technologies, methods, and techniques of conducting armed warfare.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
A third feature of conducting of hostilities is the qualitative increase in the role of information awareness on tactical and operational levels.
The work has begun in this direction. The Svod system is being introduced into the Armed Forces. Officials from platoon to formation will be in a single secure information space using trusted devices. Troops will have access to the demandable digital services – and in real time. These include weather reports, cartographic services, space images, air-based and ground-based data.
This year, the Tsentr Group of Forces successfully completed the combat and training operation of the system. By September 2026, it is necessary to ensure the gradual introduction of the Svod system into all groups of forces.
The fourth feature of the military operations is building-up the intensity and scale of enemy strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles in the depths of Russian territory.
At the beginning of the year, the enemy used 1,500 long-range UAVs per month on average. In May, the number has gradually increased to 3,700. The effectiveness of Russian air defence systems in repelling AFU attacks is on average 97%.
It is necessary to continue equipping anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence lines with effective means to detect and engage long-range drones and cruise missiles. First of all, this applies to Pantsir combat vehicles and other short- and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems as well as radar stations, which proved to be effective.
Let us go further through the agenda. A qualitatively new segment of the air defence system based on FPV interceptors is being developed. Its use has proved its effectiveness. In the first half of 2026, it is necessary to complete the formation and equipping crews with these weapons.
We will continue to create mobile firing groups providing them with the most effective weapons, such as Verba MANPADS, Zubr and Tsitadel SAM systems. We will provide Army Aviation with new anti-drone means.
Separately, I would like to highlight the significant strengthening the role of the regional headquarters in ensuring comprehensive protection of the territory from drones. It is worth noting the positive experience of establishing the air defence system around Moscow. It needs to be applied on a wider scale within the framework of a unified air defence system, in accordance with the recent mandate of the President of the Russian Federation.
In general, the results of the special military operation show that we are ahead of the enemy in the technologies, methods, and techniques of conducting armed warfare. This advantage must be preserved, thus creating conditions for further offensive actions and achieving the objectives of the special military operation.
Today, such conditions are fully created. Next year, a feasible recruitment plan for the military district contract and a plan for the supply of weapons and equipment have been put in place. It is fully funded. Ninety percent of the relevant contracts with defence industry enterprises have already been concluded.
🎮 Unmanned aerial vehicles assumed the function of the main strike force.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The key task for the next year is to maintain and increase the pace of the offensive. We all know that political and diplomatic efforts are being made today to resolve the so-called 'Ukrainian conflict'. At the same time, we can clearly see that European leaders and the Kiev regime try to evade this issue. We are talking about prolonging the conflict with a view to the maximum weakening of our country. At the same time, the NATO-countries began intensive preparations for confrontation against Russia at the turn of 2030s. This policy creates real preconditions for the continuation of hostilities in the next year, in 2026.
In this regard, it is necessary to continue to impose our will on the enemy, to act in a preemptive manner, and to constantly improve the tactics of the warfare. We must continue to get into the AFU defences destroying their groups of forces.
During the special military operation, characteristics of military operations has changed significantly. This year, several such features can be distinguished.
The first feature is the significant increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in reconnaissance and fire missions. It assumed the function of the main strike force. At the moment, up to half of the enemy losses are caused by FPV drones. In the last year the advantage of the tactical drones was on the side of the enemy, then in August of this year a breakthrough occurred. Today, we have achieved double-quantitative superiority over the enemy. At the same time, the range of actions using unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance, counter-battery warfare, the delivery of ammunition and materiel to the front line has been expanded.
In this regard, the key issue is the formation of a new branch of troops - the Unmanned Systems Forces, which was discussed at the previous meeting. Here, we have achieved the following results.
The Rubikon teams are in the vanguard. These units have eliminated more than 13,000 weapons and hardware, which is more than a quarter of the results of unmanned aerial vehicles' attacks. The Rubikon Centre has gained the international recognition. Its combat experience has been reflected in the publications of major international media including American and British ones. The Kiev regime has declared the Rubikon Centre a threat to the national security.
Next year, the formation of the Unmanned Systems Forces is to be completed. We will move from the fulfilment of individual tasks by groups and teams to complex joint actions as parts of formations and military units.
It is necessary to significantly expand the system of training troops in all the specialisations involved in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, to get tens of thousands of people to go through this training.
The main effort is to attract young people under the age of 35 who are more susceptible to the latest technologies and speeds. To this end, we began to apply a new form of contract with good motivational terms.
It will also be necessary to equip Unmanned Systems Forces with new types of jamming reconnaissance and attack unmanned aerial vehicles including those with artificial intelligence as well as ground-based command stations, repeaters, autonomous power sources, and communication means.
🪖 A key element of our success on the battlefield is the steady recruitment of the Armed Forces.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
In total, as a result of successful actions of the Joint Group of Forces this year, the combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been reduced by a third.
First of all, they have lost more than 103 thousand different types of weapons and military hardware including about five and a half thousand Western-made ones. This is almost twice as high as in 2024. At the same time, Ukrainian security forces lost almost 500 thousand troops. As a result, the Kiev regime lost its ability to replenish its groups through the forced mobilisation of citizens.
Secondly, capabilities of the Ukrainian defence industry in the serial production of military products have been reduced by almost a half. The effectiveness of targeted Russian strikes is around 60%, which is much higher than the effectiveness of Ukrainian strikes on the Russian territory.
Thirdly, more than 70% of TPPs as well as more than 37% of hydroelectric power plants that support the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been disabled. The Ukraine's power generation capacity has more than halved. This has also had a direct impact on Ukraine's ability to resist.
I thank the command and the military personnel of the Joint Group of Forces for their professional actions, courage, resilience, and heroism during combat missions.
A key element of our success on the battlefield is the steady recruitment of the Armed Forces. This year's replenishment plan has been exceeded. Almost 410 thousand citizens volunteered for military service through the contract. Nearly two-thirds of them - young people under 40 years of age, more than a third - have higher or secondary special education.
In addition, I would like to thank the command of military districts, the authorised representatives of the President of the Russian Federation and heads of regions for the diligent work they have done in supplying troops.
⚡️ Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov reports at Expanded meeting of Defence Ministry Board
💬 Russian Defence Minister:
Last year, at a meeting of the Board, the Ministry of Defence identified 10 priority areas for further actions. All of them still stay relevant in the near future. Today, we are going to summarise the results of the implementation and confirm the tasks for 2026.
🏳️ Captured Ukrainian serviceman tells how their command left them in lurch
Like thousands of his comrades, captured AFU soldier Ivan Fedino was caught on the street by TRC officers and, after a short stay in a training unit, was sent to combat positions.
'There were FPV drones around us, we were under constant threat. Mortars hit our positions as well. The attacks were awful,' said the prisoner.
'We entered a building, found clothes, and changed ours. We got some mattresses and blankets into a cellar. We used it to warm us up. We hid there, in this cellar, until Russian soldiers arrived'.
'I don't have a very good attitude towards the Ukrainian command, because they literally left me in lurch,' said the prisoner.
🎖🎖 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 17 December 2025
Part 2 (👉 see Part 1)
🚩 The Vostok Group of Forces' units continued to advance into the depths of enemy defences and liberated Gerasimovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).
💥 Russian troops inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one assault brigade, three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one territorial defence brigade close to Andreyevka, Gavrilovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Ternovatoye, Gulyai-Pole, and Kosovtsevo (Zaporozhye region).
▪️ The AFU losses were up to 235 troops, two tanks, one armoured personnel carrier, three U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns including one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer.
💥 Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces launched attacks on formations of one mountain assault brigade of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade near Razumovka, Novoyakovlevka (Zaporozhye region), and Nikolskoye (Kherson region).
▪️ In addition, up to 45 Ukrainian troops, 11 motor vehicles, one 155-mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery system, two ammunition depots, and two materiel depots were neutralised.
✈️ 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 in 143 areas.
🎯 Air defence systems shot down 180 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost:
▫️ 669 aircraft,
▫️ 283 helicopters,
▫️ 103,542 unmanned aerial vehicles,
▫️ 640 anti-aircraft missile systems,
▫️ 26,574 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles,
▫️ 1,633 MLRS combat vehicles,
▫️ 31,973 field artillery guns and mortars,
▫️ 49,280 support military vehicles.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
⚡️ Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued to advance into the depth of enemy defences and liberated Gerasimovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
💥 The Yug Group of Forces’ D-30 howitzer crew destroyed an enemy UAV command post in Konstantinovka direction.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
⚔️ Yug Group's Grad MLRS crews destroyed an AFU temporary deployment area and an enemy UAV command post near Konstantinovka
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🌐 The process of shifting to a long-term approach to planning of cooperation with partners.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The seventh priority area is military and military–technical cooperation.
Regarding the area of bilateral cooperation, this year we initiated the process of shifting to a long-term and complex approach to planning our partnerships.
We have introduced a new format for three- and five-year plans. These are concrete action plans that comprehensively cover all areas of cooperation. Specifically, the exchange of experience in various areas of military affairs, the training of specialists, joint exercises, and other practical forms of cooperation, as well as military-technical support and military-technical cooperation. We have signed documents with eight countries, including Belarus and several Central and Southeast Asian countries.
In the coming year, we intend to sign similar agreements with six more countries.
In addition, we have implemented a new approach to promote Russian military armament to our allies and partners. For foreign delegations, the military showcase of the weapons' effectiveness is conducted in conjunction with the modernisation initiatives of foreign armies. To this end, the facilities of the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Centre are widely used. This year, representatives from over twenty countries have participated in the system. This has had a positive impact on military-technical cooperation. For the first time in recent years, it was possible to reverse the downward trend in military exports and expand the range of contracts.
In the coming year, we will establish a framework for a new form of cooperation – a technological alliance between the companies of the national defence industry and our partners. It will be essential to streamline the licensing process for exporting prototypes of defence industry products. Assuming that the oversight of crucial military technologies remains unwavering.
In the area of multilateral cooperation, we have substantially enhanced our ties with the armed forces of the CSTO, CIS, and the SCO.
We have elevated joint deployment and coordination between our troops, as well as joint air and sea patrols. 23 international exercises were held. The largest of those was the Zapad 2025 joint strategic exercise. It was attended by foreign troops from four countries and observers from ten countries. This work needs to be continued in light of the Russia's upcoming chairmanship of the CSTO.
The crucial task that the Ministry of Defence must address – the search for missing servicemen (MIAs).
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
I would like to emphasise the crucial task that the Ministry of Defence must address – the search for missing servicemen (MIAs).
This year, the Main Coordination Centre has been established. The accounting of missing persons was put in order. We began to manage a unified database and organised its content. At present, the database includes almost all missing servicemen. The Main Centre's and evacuation teams are organised into groups. Public and volunteer organisations have become actively involved in the search. This yielded the first results. The number of located servicemen has tripled compared to last year. It reached 48% of the total number of missing persons, which means that every second person was found.
In the coming year, it is essential to enhance this percentage to 60% or higher.
To build up the search for missing individuals, the implementation of electronic identification badges for servicemen will commence next year. A military-technical experiment was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of such badges in the Tsentr and Dnepr groups of forces. The experiment was a success.
⚡️ More than 90 percent of the wounded coming from the battlefield have been rescued.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The fourth priority area is medical support for military personnel and their families.
The key task is to provide first aid on the line of contact and to preserve the serviceman's life during the so-called 'golden hour' after being wounded.
Almost all military personnel have been passed the tactical medicine training. The transition to a first aid kit, which was developed on the basis of combat experience, has been completed. More than 1.2 million different types of new-generation medical kits have been delivered to the troops, which made it possible to equip almost all servicemen.
Thanks to joint work with the Ministry of Health and the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency, elements of high-tech medical assistance were brought closer to the front lines. For example, with the use of dried plasma, servicemen are treated with acute blood loss directly on the line of contact.
I would like to point out that today more than 90 percent of the wounded coming from the battlefield have been rescued.
The next task is timely evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield. We succeeded in significantly increasing their survival by reducing the transport time to medical facilities. Over the past two years, the time spent evacuating servicemen with complex injuries to a place of high-tech care has been reduced to 36 hours, compared to 40 hours.
It became possible due to the fact that the troops were almost fully provided with sanitary equipment. At the same time, the provision of armoured vehicles has reached up to 86% of the need. This is twice as high as the last year's level. The goal is to bring the figure to 100 per cent, no later than the first six months of next year.
The experience of the special military operation has shown that one of the most effective means of evacuation from the battlefield is to use the robotic platforms. In 2025, 288 units of such equipment were delivered to the troops. This is just one fifth of the need. Next year, it is necessary to provide the troops with this equipment in full volume. This is a crucial task directly related to saving people's lives.
Next task is to provide a medical care in hospitals. This year, they built six new hospitals, including in border regions, in Kursk and Bryansk regions. The bed fund will increase by a thousand units. This is about 20,000 wounded a year, who will receive timely medical care. Next year, it is planned to put into operation six more hospitals with 1.5 thousand beds capacity.
In addition, as part of the interaction between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the Federal Medical-Biological Agency, this year, for the first time, completely covered the demand for high-tech assistance. But today, it is mainly available in central hospitals.
In 2026, it is necessary to move to the provision of high-tech assistance in district hospitals, which will significantly accelerate its providing.
Finally, another key task is the transition to a new system of rehabilitation of wounded servicemen. With the involvement of leading regional prosthetic and orthopedic plants and targeted routing, today more than half of the wounded are undergoing a full cycle of rehabilitation activities close to their home or service. The duration of prosthetics has been halved compared to 2024 and now amounts to no
more than three months.
Overall, the problem of the ineffectiveness of the work of military medical commissions has been resolved, and the servicemen have had many complaints about their work. Thanks to the formation of mobile groups, the period of medical examination of servicemen has been reduced by half, to seven days.
🧔 A changing nature of warfare leads to the emergence of new military specialisations and areas, increasing the requirements for officer training.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The third priority area is the modernisation of the military education system.
A changing nature of warfare leads to the emergence of new military specialisations and areas, increasing the requirements for officer training.
At the same time, the issue of the attractiveness of military education has become more acute.
We have brilliant educational institutions that are of no quality inferior to leading civil universities. These are Military-Space Academy, Military Air Force Academy, and Naval Academy, Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces, Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy, Military Academy of the Signal Corps, Military Medical Academy, Military University, Moscow and Novosibirsk higher military command schools, Kazan Higher Tank Command School, and a number of others.
But in general, it must be recognised that the attractiveness of military education remains low. It is a deep problem that needs to be addressed in a comprehensive and step-by-step manner.
In order to solve this problem, next year we will begin the implementation of the Programme to enhance the prestige of military service. One of its landmarks, reflecting the quality of education, is the raise of the average score of the Unified State Exam (EGE) to at least 155 against today's 140 for entering military universities.
First, it is necessary to continue work on the renewal of military specialisations. Today, specialists in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, the use of innovative weapons, electronic warfare, information and communication technologies, and high-tech medicine are in high demand in all types and branches of the Armed Forces. In 2025, 11 such new specialisations were introduced, and 690 people are already studying them.
Next year, it is planned to open additional training of military personnel in six new specialisations. Including marine and underwater unmanned systems.
Secondly, it is necessary to put the experience of the special military operation into the military education system. It is necessary to make additions to all training programmes for trainees and cadets, reflecting the experience of combat operations, including management in operational and tactical levels. Next year, it is necessary to complete this work.
Trainees and cadets should undergo training under the guidance of instructors with combat experience.
At the same time, twice as many instructors have completed traineeships in the special military operation zone this year as in the past. The staffing of the departments of the special military disciplines has reached 75 per cent. This work needs to be completed next year.
Thirdly, in order to improve the quality of military personnel training, it is necessary to significantly increase interaction between military and civilian universities. I would like to point out that this year, for the first time, 203 agreements have been concluded by military universities with leading civilian universities, scientific research organisations, and industrial enterprises.
Fourth, additional measures are needed to improve the material base of military universities and the accommodation conditions of instructors and cadets.
To this end, an inventory of educational and material resources has been carried out this year.
The renovation of 36 facilities have been completed to accommodate more than eight and a half thousand cadets. Next year, it is necessary to expand the capacity of the barracks and housing fund by another 10,000 places.
✈️ In accordance with existing threats to military security, construction of modern and high-tech Armed Forces is being carried out.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The second priority area of the Russian Defenсe Ministry's work is the modernisation of the Armed Forces in the long term, taking into account external threats and the development of innovative technologies.
An analysis of the military-political situation shows that threats to military security have changed significantly over the past three years.
The North Atlantic Alliance continues to build coalition forces. Active preparations are underway for the deployment of medium-range missiles. The nomenclature of nuclear weapons has been updated. Air and missile defence is being modernised. The mobilisation system is changing. The speed of the deployment of the NATO troops to the eastern flank is increased, and for this reason, it is planned to implement the so-called 'military Schengen'.
Military spending has increased significantly. Today, the Alliance's annual budget amounts to 1.6 trillion dollars. Taking into account its gradual increase to five per cent of national GDP, the NATO budget will increase by more than one and a half times, to 2.7 trillion dollars.
All of this is evidence of NATO's preparations for a military confrontation with Russia. The Alliance plans provide for achieving readiness for such actions at the turn of the 2030s. NATO bloc officials have repeatedly publicly stated this.
Modern and high-tech Armed Forces are being built in accordance with existing threats to military security. I will focus on the most important points.
First, special attention is paid to the development of strategic nuclear forces, which is a key element in deterring aggression against our country. In order to increase their combat capabilities, this year, the Knyaz Pozharsky, Borei-A class, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, equipped with Bulava missiles, was commissioned as a part of its naval components. Construction of two more submarines of this type continues. Russian Aerospace Forces received two Tu-160m strategic missile carriers. The Strategic Missile Forces continue rearming with the Yars missile system. As Vladimir Vladimirovich noted, a mobile ground-based missile system with medium-range Oreshnik missiles will be put on combat duty by the end of the year.
Secondly, institutional changes are underway to increase the level of command and control, mobility and autonomy of combined armed formations and units. In total, five divisions, 13 brigades, and 30 regiments have been formed as part of the Armed Forces this year. And next year, another four divisions, 14 brigades, and 39 regiments are to be formed.
The first stage of establishing formations and military units of the army and divisional structure of the Leningrad and Moscow military districts has been completed.
In the Russian Aerospace Forces, for the first time, an air and missile defence division has been formed. The first regiment, equipped with a unique S-500 surface-to-air missile/anti-ballistic missile system capable of hitting targets in close space, went on combat duty.
The Russian Navy has begun the process of switching the marine brigades to a divisional structure. Two brigades are already being transformed into a division. And two more — next year.
🎯 Russian troops are improving tactics, methods, and techniques of their actions.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The second feature of hostilities is enemy attempts to detain the pace of Russian offensive by creating a so-called 'drone line'. This is a 10-15-kilometre zone in which everything is to be eliminated by echeloned use of unmanned aerial vehicles of various types.
In preventing actions of the enemy, Russian troops are improving tactics, methods, and techniques of their actions. The rate of movement of units to the front line is increasing. Soldiers are increasingly protected from enemy drones.
It requires additional support by modern mobile means of movement. This year, more than 38,000 motorcycles, ATVs, and buggies have been delivered to Russian troops. That is ten times more than last year. The next step is to reach almost full staffing of troops in these assets.
So so-called trench electronic warfare systems, which have confirmed their effectiveness, have a special place in protecting assault detachments from UAVs. These include Obereg, Peroyed, Silok, Sosedka, and other systems. Since the beginning of the year, more than 130 thousand systems have been delivered to the front line, 6.5 times more than last year. However, it is necessary to continue to deliver all the means to Russian troops on the line of contact by effective means of tactical electronic warfare systems. This is one of the key tasks of next year.
Let us go further through the agenda. Changing warfare conditions require the restructuring of the combat service support system in terms of supply, logistics, and repair of weapons and equipment.
First of all, this year, the task of protecting arsenals and storage areas of weapons, fuel and hardware has been accomplished. Next year, it is necessary to complete the development of a multi-level storage system. To increase flexibility and speed of delivery, complete the first stage of the digital transformation of logistics support processes.
Secondly, motor vehicles, aerial and ground-based robotic systems have begun to be actively used to supply advanced ammunition and materiel. If last year this was a one-time thing, this year we have already delivered more than 12,000 tonnes of various cargoes to the front line. In 2026, it is necessary to increase this figure by at least a half. The issue of protecting supply routes through the use of anti-drone nets also has to be resolved.
Thirdly, it concerns repair actions. This year, the serviceability of weapons and hardware was maintained at a level of no less than 98%. The practice of using mobile brigades to quickly restore high-tech weapons and hardware has proved to be fully effective. This year, we have returned 92% of the damaged hardware to service. This is 10% more than last year.
🚛 This year's deliveries of major weapons, military hardware and ammunition to troops were increased by a third.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
Timely organised deliveries of weapons and military hardware play a crucial role in the successful fulfilment of combat tasks. This year's deliveries of major weapons, military hardware and ammunition to troops were increased by a third comparing with the results of 2024.
As a result, despite the high-intensity military operations, the Joint Group of Forces' support not only did not decreased, but it even increased by six percentage points. It has been brought up to 92%. And for front-line units – up to 80%. The troop needs for aircraft and helicopters, artillery armament, rear equipment, and medical equipment have been virtually met. The previous shortage of artillery shells has been almost neutralised. At the same time, it is necessary to complete the replenishment of EWs next year, especially in tactical positions, anti-aircraft guided missiles, radar stations, and counter-battery warfare systems.
The special military operation has given impetus to the development of new types of weapons and combat systems. This year, more than a thousand samples have been tested in combat conditions. The testing was conducted also with unmanned aerial vehicles of the new Geran-2 modified guidance system, loitering munitions, FPV fibre-optic drones, the Kuryer ground-based robotic system, the Omich-Ogonyok transport system, and many others.
I would like to thank the Ministry of Industry and Trade, heads of defence industry enterprises, and the People's Defence Industry companies for their efforts to equip the troops.
🫡 In the course of the year, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation confidently hold the strategic initiative.
💬 Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov:
The first priority area is to ensure the fulfilment of the goals of the special military operation established by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
In the course of the year, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation confidently hold the strategic initiative. Active offensive actions are being carried out in almost all directions.
As Vladimir Putin noted, more than 300 settlements and more than 6,000 square kilometres of territory have been liberated during the year. It exceeds last year's figures by a third. Moreover, the pace of advance of the Vostok, Tsentr, and Zapad groups of forces has increased by 1.5-2 times since 2024.
These numbers are qualitative results of our actions. Kursk region has been liberated, important defence facilities of Ukrainian troops have been neutralised in Donbass and Zaporozhye. What had been clear from the beginning was confirmed: the collapse of the AFU defence is inevitable. Finally, the Western supervisors of the Kiev regime clearly understand it.
I will focus on the results of actions of the groups of forces.
The Sever Group of Forces. Volchansk has been liberated. The creation of a buffer zone in Kharkov and Sumy regions continues. As a result, the threat of enemy invasion in Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk regions has been reduced. This made it possible to begin demining actions on these territories. More than 150,000 hectares have already been cleared, and about three million explosive objects have been neutralised. Rehabilitation of social and economic infrastructure in border areas has begun.
The Zapad Group of Forces took over Kupyansk which the enemy is unsuccessfully trying to regain. The AFU supply routes were organised through the city. This will make it possible to expand the security belt in Kharkov region and reduce the threat of shelling by the enemy of the Lugansk People's Republic. Russian troops continue to neutralise an enemy encircled group on the left bank of the Oskol River east of Kupyansk.
Russian servicemen continue actions to liberate Krasny Liman. Its liberation opens the way to block Slavyansk, the most important AFU logistics centre.
The Yug Group of Forces took up powerful fortified areas of the enemy as Chasov Yar, Kurakhovo, and Seversk. At present, the fighting for Konstantinovka is underway. The city is the key to the last stronghold of the Kiev regime on Donbass, which is Druzhkovka-Kramatorsk-Slavyansk agglomeration. Capturing this border will make it possible to complete the liberation of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The Tsentr Group of Forces has taken control over Krasnoarmeysk, which used to be a symbol of the resistance of both the AFU and Western supervisors.
Russian soldiers continue to inflict fire damage on Ukrainian troops in Dimitrov, the last stronghold of the AFU in Krasnoarmeysk agglomeration. The enemy troops is reliably blocked. The liberation of Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov is going to be the biggest defeat of the enemy on Donbass lately.
The Vostok Group of Forces is advancing at a rapid pace to the depth of enemy defences in Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions. Since 1 November, this year alone, the Group has taken control over more than 400 square kilometres of the territory and liberated 24 settlements. The liberation of Gulyai-Pole continues. This is an important fortified area of the AFU and a transport hub, the liberation of which will make it possible to create conditions for the liberation of Zaporozhye region.
The Dnepr Group of Forces is advancing in Orekhov direction. The Group took hold over Malaya Tokmachka. Servicemen fight close to Orekhov. Taking control of this settlement will create favourable conditions for the offensive in Zaporozhye region.
Moreover, the Group's troops reliably hold the Dnepr island area. Russian troops repel enemy attempts to land on the Tendra Spit and the Kinburn Spit.
Vladimir Putin addressed an expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board
In his opening remarks, the President pointed out that the past year was an important milestone in achieving the goals of the special military operation, with over 300 communities liberated.
The Russian Army has been holding the strategic initiative along the entire frontline. Our troops are advancing confidently and steadily, grinding down the hostile forces. <...> We are proud of the feats of our soldiers and officers who are fighting on the frontline, as well as everyone who defends Russia and the security of our citizens.
🚩 Servicemen of Vostok Group of Forces liberate Gerasimovka in Dnepropetrovsk region
Assault detachments of the 29th Army's 36th Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade (Vostok Group of Forces) liberated Gerasimovka in Dnepropetrovsk region expanding the bridgehead on the west bank of the Gaichur River.
🪖 Advancing along the west bank of the river, soldiers from the Far Eastern mopped up several AFU strongholds and took control of an area of up to two kilometres on the front line and up to a kilometre deep. In the course of the battles, two armoured fighting vehicles, 12 Baba Yaga hexacopters, and manpower of the enemy were neutralised.
➡️ Taking control of Gerasimovka was an important stage for units of the Vostok Group of Forces. Russian troops took hold of the area on the west bank of the Gaichur River and created conditions for further development of the offensive into Dnepropetrovsk region.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🎖🎖 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 17 December 2025
🪖 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.
💥 Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of one jaeger brigade of the AFU and one National Guard regiment near Pisarevka, Varachino, and Shostka (Sumy region).
🔥 In Kharkov direction, Russian troops hit units of two heavy mechanised brigades, two mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one territorial defence brigade close to Stary Saltov, Revolyutsionnoye, Veliky Burluk, Izbitskoye, Volchanskiye Khutora, and Varvarovka (Kharkov region).
▪️ The enemy losses were up to 160 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, and one electronic warfare station.
💥 Units of the Zapad Group of Forces delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades, and two assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Blagodatovka, Podoly, Kovsharovka, Novosergeyevka, Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, Monachinovka (Kharkov region), and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).
▪️ The enemy losses were up to 230 troops, three U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, 15 motor vehicles, three artillery guns including one 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M114 howitzer, one electronic reconnaissance station, and five ammunition depots.
📍 The Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops inflicted fire damage on formations of four mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and two National Guard brigades close to Reznikovka, Stepanovka, Slavyansk, Petrovskoye, Konstantinovka, and Kramatorsk (Donetsk People's Republic).
▪️ The enemy losses were more than 200 troops, 18 motor vehicles, two artillery guns, two electronic warfare stations, and four ammunition and POL depots.
💥 The Tsentr Group of Forces' units continue to hit encircled enemy units in Vostochny district and Zapadny district of Dimitrov (Donetsk People's Republic). Russian troops mop up Rodinskoye, Svetloye, and Grishino (Donetsk People's Republic) from scattered groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
🔥 In addition, Russian troops hit manpower and hardware of one mechanised brigade, one airmobile brigade, one jaeger brigade, one UAV regiment, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two marine brigades, the Azov Special Forces Brigade, one territorial defence brigade, and two National Guard brigades near Volnoye, Toretskoye, Belitskoye, Udachnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).
▪️ The enemy losses were more than 470 troops, two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns including two Western-made ones.
👉 See Part 2
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
Northern Fleet's Su-24M aircraft pilots of Mixed Aviation Corps perform air-to-air refuelling
Su-24M tactical bomber crews practised one of the most difficult elements of the training during the scheduled flight shift - air-to-air refuelling.
✈️ Su-24M bomber crews operating in assigned areas brought closer and made contact with a refuelling unit of an Il-78 tanker aircraft. The manoeuvres were performed in conditions of polar night taking into account difficult weather conditions of the Far North. The pilots successfully performed their tasks confirming a high level of professional training.
❗️ Air-to-air refuelling is one of the most complex elements of flight training requiring the highest accuracy and coordination of flight personnel. The training of this element increases the combat capabilities of aviation. These actions allow Su-24M tactical bombers to significantly expand the operating range, the time spent in the air, and, consequently, additional capabilities to be used in performing tasks.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
📆 Top News Today
▫ As a result of resolute actions, units of the Zapad Group of Forces liberated Novoplatonovka in Kharkov region. The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, Andrei Belousov, congratulated the command and personnel of the 12th Guards Tank Regiment n.a. P.P. Poluboyarov.
▫ Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, missile troops, and artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have inflicted damage on transport infrastructure used in the interests of the AFU, assembly workshop and storage site of attack unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 154 areas.
▫ The Russian Defence Ministry shows footage of the heavy flamethrower systems (TOS), a Grad MLRS, the Rubikon Centre's specialists, and UAV pilots in action.
▫ The serviceman of the Vostok Group of Forces told about the advance of assault detachments near Gulyaypole (Zaporozhye region).
▫ During the inspection of houses and basements of the liberated Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic), servicemen of the Tsentr Group of Forces detected a former UAV command post of Ukrainian neo-Nazis from the so-called elite Ptakhi Madyara unit.
▫ Tu-22m3 long-range bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed scheduled flight over neutral water of Black Sea.
#TopNews
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
💥 Unmanned systems units never miss a target
00:00 Sever Group's UAV teams eliminated one Baba Yaga hexacopter and one artillery system of the AFU in Sumy region.
00:05 Vostok Group's UAV operators hit enemy hexacopters and enemy control antennas in Gulyaypole.
00:13 Tsentr Group's FPV drone team of the 51st Guards Combined Arms Army eliminated an enemy stronghold in Krasnoarmeysk direction.
00:22 Kamikaze drones eliminated a hexacopter, a pickup truck, and a quadricycle with AFU servicemen.
00:38 UAV teams hit enemy strongholds, manpower, and electronic warfare stations close to Sadki in Sumy region.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry
🛠 Specialists of the electronic warfare company of the 3rd Motorised Rifle Division (20th Combined Arms Army, Zapad Group of Forces) tested the mobile electronic warfare system on the basis of the ground-based robotic platform Kurier.
📄 The tests involved different operating modes the station against FPV drones, determining the effective range of jamming and the capabilities of system in difficult conditions of modern warfare. They also checked the station's cruising range, speed of movement, chassis mobility, and operating time in autonomous mode without reloading.
💬 The senior operator of the electronic warfare station with the call sign 'Devyatnadtsaty' told more about the tests.
🔹 Russian Defence Ministry