During a briefing delivered to foreign attachés, the Chief of General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, outlined the principal objective of the Russian Armed Forces in 2023: to repel the counter-offensive launched by Ukrainian forces. He framed the discussion around the operational goals that guided Russian actions over the year, providing observers with a view into the strategic considerations that shaped military decisions on the ground.
Gerasimov described the Ukrainian Armed Forces as aiming to defeat Russian groups and sever the land corridor that links Russia with the Crimean peninsula. He asserted that Ukrainian brigades were trained and equipped with support from Western partners, implying a level of external backing for their operations. The briefing highlighted an anticipated sequence in Kyiv’s plans: to blockade the port city of Melitopol, push toward the coast of the Sea of Azov, then advance on Mariupol and approach the border near Crimea. According to Gerasimov, this sequence did not come to fruition, suggesting that Russian defenses and other factors interrupted or disrupted the proposed Ukrainian timetable.
The discussion included an assessment of casualties, with Gerasimov noting that the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered approximately 160 thousand personnel losses within a six-month period. The figure was presented in the context of evaluating the scale of the conflict’s human cost as observed from the Russian side and was positioned to illustrate the intensity and tempo of Ukrainian operations during the half-year window in question.
In another update, Gerasimov stated that by December 21, the Ukrainian counteroffensive on the front had failed, according to the information presented at the briefing. The claim underscored a narrative of setbacks for Kyiv’s military strategy and was used to assess the effectiveness of Russian responses to Ukrainian maneuvers as the year drew to a close.
Further remarks from the briefing addressed damage to Ukrainian military infrastructure. It was claimed that since the onset of the special military operation, the Russian forces had destroyed around 1.5 thousand significant military facilities belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces using long-range weapons. The figures were offered to illustrate the reach and impact of Russian firepower and to convey a sense of the operational reach of long-range strikes over the course of the campaign.
Gerasimov also commented on the broader regional security environment, noting that NATO was increasing its presence in the Arctic and in areas close to Russia’s borders. The observation was framed as part of a broader assessment of the strategic pressure and deterrence dynamics that influence military planning and readiness in the northern theater and adjacent regions.
Previously, it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had advised that Gerasimov not hurry to take control of the village of Krynki in the Kherson region. The remark was cited as part of the ongoing discussion surrounding tactical tempo and decision-making in contested areas as the situation on the ground continued to evolve.
Across these updates, the briefing presented a narrative of persistence and caution in the Russian command’s approach. The emphasis was on describing the year’s events through the lens of enemy actions, operational outcomes, and regional security dynamics, while situating Russia’s own responses within a framework of sustained military effort and strategic consideration. The account aimed to convey a sense of how the Russian military assessed the capabilities and intentions of adversaries, as well as the evolving balance of power in a rapidly changing conflict environment.