Moscow aims to achieve goals in Ukraine with ‘minimal human losses’: Defense minister nominee

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia’s nominee for defense minister said on Tuesday that his country aims to achieve the goals of its “special military operation” in Ukraine with “minimal human losses.”

“The key task, of course, remains achieving victory and ensuring the achievement of the military-political goals of the Northern Military District set by the president. At the same time, I want to specifically emphasize this, with minimal human losses,” Andrey Belousov said in an address to the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament.

Expressing that he considers the equipment of Russian forces in the Northern Military District the most pressing issue for the Defense Ministry, Belousov said he is particularly talking about ensuring the supply of “the most modern military and special equipment.”

“In this regard, we have monthly plans for each area, but implementation requires literally daily and even hourly inclusion and being in constant communication,” he further said.

He also said that he considers it necessary to improve military education, as well as “develop new forms of warfare, new methods of conducting combat operations.”

“The enemy learns quickly. The situation related to the use of new technologies changes literally weekly. And here we need to not only learn and follow, we need to forestall the enemy. And here, together with the General Staff, in fact, this work has been established, but it also requires daily involvement,” Belousov added.

He went on to say that he is aware of the responsibilities, adding: “I undertake to use all my strength, my health, if necessary, my life to solve the assigned tasks.”

Belousov was nominated for the post of defense minister on Sunday after the dismissal of Sergey Shoygu, who has since been appointed as secretary of Russia’s Security Council.