MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. The Russian Armed Forces have been operating this year in the conditions of a severe and still intensifying confrontation with countries of the collective West, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said at a meeting of senior ministry officials.

According to the minister, Ukrainian losses exceeded 560,000 servicemen killed and wounded in 2024, and the enemy lost almost 1 million people over the entire period of the special military operation.

TASS has put together key statements by Belousov.

Confrontation with the West

The Russian Armed Forces this year addressed the goals set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief as part of a "severe confrontation with the collective West, which continues to intensify and escalate."

The Defense Ministry is preparing for any development of the situation, including "a possible military conflict with NATO in Europe in the next decade," as indicated by the decisions that the North Atlantic Alliance made at the summit in July.

The creation of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts should be completed as a response to NATO expansion.

In order to repel threats from the alliance, some goals need to be addressed, including "introducing new approaches to the formation of the government’s armament program".

Russia and its partners in the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the CIS need to create "effective mechanisms for collective response" to new threats.

Progress of the special operation

Russian troops have liberated almost 4,500 square kilometers of Ukraine-occupied territory so far in 2024.

The enemy's combat capabilities has been diminished.

"This year alone, Ukrainian losses exceeded 560,000 servicemen killed and wounded. And they totaled, as Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] noted, almost 1 million people over the entire period of the special military operation. In the reckless Kursk gamble alone, the Kiev regime lost more than 40,000 servicemen."

Russian troops "firmly hold the strategic initiative along the entire engagement line."

Ukrainian forces had to "assume the defensive and deploy their remaining reserves."

Ukrainian forces have "largely lost the ability" to produce weapons, equipment and ammunition they need.

During the special operation Russian air defenses "showed high efficiency." This year they shot down 86 Storm Shadow missiles, 215 ATASMS missiles and more than 27,000 drones.

Essential work has been carried out to protect the storage sites of fuel and lubricants if they are within the range of the enemy's weapons.

"Open storage sites have been eliminated, camouflage has been applied, mobile firepower groups have been created and a system of interaction with air defenses has been established."

Oreshnik

Next year, it is necessary to scale up production of the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile system and continue work on "other promising designs."

Development of Russian armed forces

It is necessary to take stock, systemize testing and organize volume production of innovative technical products that would make it possible to save the lives of Russian servicemen.

"It is necessary to create an integrated information environment for decision-making in the tactical link."

The Russian Armed Forces should be fully staffed with a view to projected conflicts.

The Defense Ministry plans to modernize the system of military higher learning institutions, including their facilities and resources.

The Russian Armed Forces will continue to improve robotic systems and systems for their control powered by artificial intelligence.

Payments to military servicemen

Immediate payments of cash bonuses for participation in combat operations have been increased by 50% since September this year.

"But there are many complaints about their size and timing. These shortcomings need to be eliminated as soon as possible."

An additional 149 billion rubles should be allocated for housing subsidies to the military in 2025. The spending would make it possible to provide housing for up to 9,000 servicemen a year:

"At the same time, it is necessary to strictly observe the rights of servicemen in terms of priority."

The number of participants in the mortgage system is expected to more than double in the next three years and amount to 800,000 servicemen.