The Russian media released a video today (Saturday) showing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, after two weeks of absence and the media’s growing preoccupation with the world over his prolonged absence.
The Russian Ministry of Defense today released a video showing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu holding a meeting with senior officials of his ministry regarding the implementation of the “National Security Order Program and the Fulfillment of Social Duties.”
According to the Defense Minister of the Russian Federation, despite the sanctions, the level of closure of contracts under the State Protection Order of the Russian Federation has apparently reached 85%. He noted that “the state protection order is being carried out as planned, the work on concluding the contracts will be completed in April.” He added that “the division fully fulfills social obligations towards manpower, taking into account the decisions made on indexation.”
In the video, Shoigu stressed that “given the implementation of the special military operation in Ukraine in 2022, it is necessary to maintain the pace set for the supply of advanced weapons to the forces.”
Recall that since March 11, the media in Russia have not broadcast statements by senior security officials – Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Grasimov.
The Kremlin drew the attention of the world media to the meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation on March 24 and claimed that Defense Minister Shoigu was present at the meeting. The world has thrown a lot of book on this claim as the video was released without a voice and the defense minister seen in the top left corner of the screen in President Putin’s office looks like a special montage effect.
Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed a media briefing on questions as to why Sergei Shoigu was not seen, saying “the defense minister now has a lot of worries following the special operation in Ukraine and has no time for media activity.”
On the other hand, Anton Gershchenko, adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, rejected the Kremlin’s response, saying that “Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has had a heart attack and therefore, he has not appeared at official events since mid-March.”
A video released today by the Russian Ministry of Defense
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