UPDATE - Russian defense minister inspects Combat Army Reserve training

UPDATES WITH SHOYGU'S STATEMENT ON 'SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu on Thursday inspected training of the Combat Army Reserve, or BARS, a reserve force, in the country's south.

The ministry in a statement said commanders informed Shoygu about the preparation of recruits, and the military specialties they study.

Training is carried out by officers with real combat experience, including in the zone of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, it added.

Both men and women are trained at the army's Southern Military District centers, with the latter mostly engaged in medical services.

Following the inspection, Shoygu met with military chiefs at the United Group of Russian Forces headquarters.

He informed the commanders that nine reserve regiments have been formed for further participation in the zone of "special military operation."

"To date, we have nine reserve regiments that are being prepared, and their natural, constant replenishment is underway," he said.

For the goals of its "special military operation," which started in February 2022, Russia has named “denazification,” demilitarization, and the protection of rights of Russian speakers, including the right to speak Russian freely and use it in everyday life and to practice Orthodox Christianity.