Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu and General Sergei Surovikin, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, visit the Joint Headquarters of the Russian armed forces involved in military operations in Ukraine, in an unknown location in Russia.

Ukraine war: Russia’s defence minister visits troops

On Dec 18, 2022

Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has inspected the country’s troops involved in Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

According to Russia’s defence ministry; “The head of the Russian military flew around the areas of deployment of troops and checked the advanced positions of Russian units in the zone of the special military operation,” it said on the Telegram messaging app.

The ministry said in the statement that Shoigu spoke with troops “on the frontline” and at a “command post.”

However, it was not immediately clear when the visit took place or if Shoigu had visited Ukraine itself.

A short video posted with the statement showed Shoigu in a military helicopter and a couple of aerial shots of empty swaths of land.

Also Read: Ukraine war: Putin meets mothers of Russian soldiers

The announcement comes a day after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the country’s top brass, including Shoigu, seeking proposals on how they think Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine should proceed

The conflict, Europe’s deadliest since World War Two, has killed thousands, displaced millions, and turned cities to rubble.

Reuters /Zainab Sa’id