"I order you to act very harshly"

December 11, 2015, 17:45

Photo: kremlin.ru
Text: Anastasia Petrova

http://www.vzglyad.ru/society/2015/12/11/783329.html

The main theme of the extended board meeting of the Ministry of Defense, which was conducted on Friday by President Putin, became Russian VCS operation in Syria. Putin warned that "those who will try again to organize provocation" that orders destruction that threatens all of the Russian military, and said that the Russian aviation supports not only the army of Syria, but also some opposition.

Speaking on Friday at the board of the Ministry of Defense, President Vladimir Putin warned the leaders of some countries, without naming names, that the actions of the Russian aircraft in Syria are covered in all directions, and any forces that threaten the military, must be destroyed.

"I want to warn those who will try again to organize any kind of provocation against our troops. We have taken additional measures to ensure the security of Russian troops and air bases. It is reinforced by new jets and air defense ", - Putin said, to RIA" Novosti ".

"All actions of strike aircraft will be carried out under cover of fighter planes. I order you to act very tough. Any targets that threaten Russia's groups or our ground infrastructure will be destroyed immediately, "- he said, urging both to develop cooperation with States that are interested in the elimination of terrorists.

The Head of State announced that the Russian military have caused serious damage to infrastructure of "the Islamic state" in Syria and will change the situation in the country.

The President also said that the Russian Air Force at this stage supports not only the Syrian government forces, but also the "Syrian Free Army", which also leads actions against ISIL. "The work of our aviation group promotes joint efforts of both government forces and the" Free Syrian Army ". Now some of its parts total of more than 5 thousand. People, as well as regular troops, conduct offensive operations against terrorists in the provinces of Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Raqqa. In addition, we support them from the air, as well as the Syrian army, assisting them in arms, munitions and material resources "- quoted the head of state on the Kremlin website.

Explicit threats

Putin stressed that the operation in Syria is not dictated by geopolitical interests and the desire to test new weapons, and the fact that the ISIL directly threatens Russia. He noted that the representatives of different ethnic Russian living in groups, "not only from the North Caucasus, but also from other regions, not only to take an active and open part in the hostilities, but also flaunt their participation in the punitive actions."

"All of this - a direct threat to Russia, and our troops in Syria primarily to defend their country. Our actions were not dictated by whatever and unclear abstract geopolitical interests, the desire to use and test new weapons systems. It is not the main thing, the main thing si - to prevent the threat to the Russian Federation ", - Putin said.

"Do you know what dictated our decision to provide military assistance to the Syrian Republic and begin to work actively in the country against international terrorism. Militants, including immigrants from Russia, Middle East countries, who created in this country a real foothold. Their plans were clear - to strengthen and move their expansion into new regions, "- he said.

"The actions of our armed forces have been synchronized with the work of our law enforcement agencies and special services on the territory of Russia. You see, dear comrades, that the organs of the FSB work virtually throughout the country there, here they reveal camouflaged cell various terrorist organizations, including the notorious ISIL "- said the president.

Preliminary results

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to the president that in the past few months the Russian air force carried out about 4 thousand sorties, destroying more than 8 thousand of military infrastructure of terrorists in Syria. "As a result, ISIL gangs suffered significant damage," - said Shoigu.

He also said that the drones proved to be indispensable in the conduct of operations in Syria. "If in 2011 the armed forces had only 180 systems, now we have a 1720 modern unmanned aerial vehicles," - he said.

Shoigu also said that by "expanding the zone of influence of the" Islamic state. " Militants captured about 70% of the territory of Syria and most areas of Iraq. The number of terrorists is more than 60 thousand people. There is a threat of transfer of their operations to Central Asia and the Caucasus. "

Referring to Putin, Shoigu said: "Comrade Supreme Commander, the results will be announced on Syria after the completion of the work, they are invited to consider at the meeting under your leadership with representatives of the industry."

Special attention

Talking about the development of the Armed Forces, Putin stressed that the Ministry of Defense and other departments should monitor the military and political situation in the world and, if necessary, make changes to the plan for the defense of the country. "Ministry of Defence, together with other agencies are to monitor the development of the military-political situation and, if necessary, to make the documents in the Russian defense plans and clarify the necessary adjustments," - he said.

"Particular attention should be paid to strengthening the combat potential of the strategic nuclear forces, implementation of defense space programs. It is necessary, as provided by our plans to equip all the components of the nuclear triad by the new weapons systems to improve the efficiency of missile warning and aerospace defense, "- said the president.

According to him, it is necessary to develop the infrastructure to protect the strategic nuclear forces. Putin explained that he meant positional areas of the United RVSN, points-based strategic missile submarines, long-range aviation airfields.

"The troops should be organized in step with high-quality work on the development of training and combat use of modern technology. Particular attention should be paid to strengthening the combat potential of the strategic nuclear forces, implementation of defense space programs. It is necessary, as provided by our plans to equip all the components of the nuclear triad of new weapons. Increase the effectiveness of the missile attack warning and aerospace defense, "- he said Friday, speaking at the College of the Ministry of Defense.

"Over the past year, much has been done to build the capacity of our armed forces. We have reached a new level of operational use of troops. The quality of performance of combat training missions. A sudden inspection, passed almost in all military districts, have confirmed the high combat readiness of units and formations "- he said at a meeting of the expanded board of the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

"We need to continue technical re-equipment of the army and navy. Consolidate the positive trends that have been achieved as a result of the state program of armaments ", - Putin said.

Shoigu said that Russia is completing the update storage of missiles and ammunition. "Radically change the conditions of storage of missiles and ammunition enter the army as part of the state defense order. During 2014-2015, 390 vaults built, "- said Shoigu.

According to the Minister of Defense, in 2016 it is planned to complete the construction program, and is now to replace the 300 obsolete bases and warehouses are under construction the first of 24 modern production and logistics facilities in Naro-Fominsk.

Checks justified

Putin summed up the unannounced inspections, which are conducted in the army three years. "We have reached a new level of operational use of troops," - he said and instructed to continue this practice in the armed forces.

"First of all it is necessary to apply one of the most effective forms (raising of the level of operational and combat training of troops) - unannounced inspections. That is to continue to hold them in the course of their pay special attention to the transfer of troops over long distances, creating groups in threatened areas, working out tasks of strategic deterrence, defense with practical lift aircraft, with maneuvers anti-aircraft missile and radio-technical units, "- said the president.

Putin also stressed the need to actively involve visits to federal and regional authorities. "In its entirety must be worked out questions of territorial defense. It should be as soon as possible to eliminate the shortcomings that we talked about at the meetings in May and November of this year in Sochi, "- said Putin.

He noted that the teachings of the "Caucasus-2016" have to make a special emphasis on the training of the military to work in difficult conditions, including in mountainous areas.

In turn, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the department does not go beyond the funds allocated from the budget for these purposes.

Putin called for a separate military carefully control costs. "I ask carefully monitor the use of funds allocated under the state defense order, be effectively used to this new system of financial monitoring. It has been repeatedly said, and I want to emphasize once again - the extra money we have. And all that is conceived, should be implemented within the terms that are indicated in our plans, and within the previously allocated budget, budget allocations, "- he said.

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IZAKOVIC