Russian defense minister says will increase number of troops in response to emerging threats

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia will continue to strengthen its army "commensurately" due to emerging threats to the country's security, Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting in Moscow, Shoygu said strengthening suggests both the increase in number of servicemen and improvement of combat capabilities.

According to the minister, an army corps, a division, the Dnipro river fleet and a brigade of river fleet boats have been already formed.

"By the end of the year, it is planned to form two combined armies and 30 formations, including 14 divisions and 16 brigades," he said.

Turning to the war in Ukraine, which broke out in February 2022, Shoygu said four Abrams and five Leopards tanks, 27 Bradley armored vehicles, six HIMARS launchers, 11 anti-aircraft missile launchers, including five Patriots, have been destroyed since the beginning of this year.

The military chief emphasized that the expensive Western-made weapons do not help Ukraine to turn the course of events on the battlefield.