Russian Defense Minister Serguei Shoigu assured this Wednesday that more than 300,000 soldiers have already been trained as part of the partial mobilization announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in September following the invasion of Ukraine.
According to the Russian minister, many of the mobilized volunteers or reservists and about 8,000 received training to “manipulate combat vehicles and tanks, as well as artillery and air defense systems” in training centers organized by the armed forces.
Shoigu also added that about 3,000 instructors were involved in combat training for “new military formations” in more than 100 camps across Russia and Belarus.
The partial mobilization of Russian citizens was announced on September 21 by Vladimir Putin in a message to the nation in which he explained the measure with the need to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The announcement was later backed by the defense minister, who added at the same time that the measure would cover 300,000 men and take effect immediately.
On the same day, flights from Russia were full and ticket prices skyrocketed, and a series of street protests soon began, leading to the arrest of thousands of people.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 this year, triggering a war that plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: DN
