Moscow, May 2 (EFE).- The Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, assured this Tuesday that the authorities are taking measures to increase the production of weapons to meet the needs of the troops fighting in Ukraine.
“The actions of the troops within the framework of the special military operation largely depend on the timely replenishment of weapons stocks,” Shoigu acknowledged during a meeting with the Russian military leadership.
The minister indicated that the Government has entrusted the military industry to increase the rate of production of weapons and their volumes in “a short time.”
“The necessary operational measures have been taken,” he said.
In particular, Shoigu stressed the need to double the production of high-precision missiles.
“Now it is necessary to double the production of high-precision weapons as soon as possible,” he emphasized.
Criticism of the Wagner group to Russia for the lack of weapons
At the same time, Shoigu assured that the Armed Forces already have “enough ammunition” to fight the enemy “effectively.”
“In general, the military industry covers the needs of the Army and the Navy,” he said.
However, he added, it is necessary to detect in time the risks of non-compliance with contracts by some companies in order to take the appropriate measures.
The defense minister’s statements come amid criticism of his department for the shortage of weapons and ammunition suffered by Russian forces in Ukraine.
In particular, it has been denounced for months by the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose fighters are participating in the main battle now being fought between the Russian and Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut.
“The ammunition shortage continues and worsens,” Prigozhin lamented this Monday in another message.
Shoigu says that the Ukrainian Army lost more than 15,000 men in April
The Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, affirmed today that the Ukrainian Army lost more than 15,000 troops last April, during a meeting with the Russian military leadership.
“Despite unprecedented military aid from Western countries, the enemy suffers significant losses. Only last month they lost more than 15,000 men,” Shoigu said, without specifying the nature of the Ukrainian casualties.
In the same period, he added, Russian troops destroyed eight aircraft, 227 drones, 430 tanks and other armored vehicles, 18 multi-propelled missile launchers, 225 artillery pieces and mortars.
“We continue to destroy the weapons that the West supplies for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the Defense Minister stressed.
Russia has not reported its casualties since September 2022
He stressed that Russian troops carry out actions “along the entire line of contact” with the enemy.
The head of Defense did not mention the casualties in the Russian ranks, of which Moscow has not reported since September last year, when it estimated it at 5,937 deaths.
According to the United States, since last December Russian forces have suffered 100,000 casualties, of which 20,000 are dead.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since February 24 last year, when Russia launched its military campaign, a total of 191,420 Russian servicemen have been killed.