Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu Visits Battlefields in Ukraine
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently paid a visit to one of the battlefields in Ukraine, according to multiple media reports. The visit included meetings with commanders and officers, as stated by the Russian army.
During his visit, Shoigu was briefed on the situation at the front and expressed gratitude to the commanders and soldiers for their successful offensive operations in eastern Ukraine, as reported by the AFP news agency.
In addition to these engagements, images and videos circulating in Russian media showed Shoigu being allowed to enter a Swedish armored vehicle of the model stridsvordon 90. The Russian army statement confirmed that this armored vehicle was one of several seized during the fighting.
However, the Russian news agency Interfax revealed that the Ukrainian soldiers had abandoned the armored vehicle after it was hit by a shell in an apparent grenade attack. During his inspection, Shoigu was informed about certain flaws with the Swedish model, as stated by Interfax.
The exact date of the visit remains unclear. However, according to AFP, the Russian defense minister’s previous visit to the front took place at the end of June, shortly after the failed armed uprising by the Wagner Group against President Vladimir Putin.