Overview of Training Oversight by Russia’s Defense Leadership
The head of Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, oversaw how contract soldiers were organized for combat training at the Western Military District training grounds. This oversight was communicated through official channels associated with the defense department’s telegraph line, emphasizing the direct involvement of the minister in planning and supervision of practical exercises. The report highlighted that Shoigu’s involvement was part of a broader effort to ensure that contract service members receive hands-on, battle-ready training within the district’s facilities. [Citation: Russian Ministry of Defense press release]
In a formal statement, it was asserted that the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, personally controlled the organization of combat training for military personnel who enlisted under contract within the training areas of the Western Military District. The description underscored the ministerial focus on maintaining rigorous standards and streamlining the execution of training tasks across the district’s training sites. [Citation: Official defense ministry communication]
Additionally, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, General Oleksandr Salyukov, informed Shoigu that all courses conducted on the training grounds were led by officers who had gained combat experience during the special operation in Ukraine. This note illustrated a deliberate approach to leadership by veterans with frontline experience, aiming to transfer that practical insight into current cadre and contract training. [Citation: Defense ministry briefings]
During the inspection of one of the regiments within the strategic missile troops in the Kaluga region, it was observed that Shoigu tasked the development of new forms and methods of collaboration among troops. The aim was to weave these innovations into the ongoing combat training programs, ensuring that coordinated tactics and inter-unit cooperation are embedded in routine exercises. [Citation: Mil.ru reporting]
Earlier, there were notes indicating that the Russian Ministry of Defense was involved in supervising the fulfillment of the state defense order at enterprises within the military-industrial complex in the Tula region. The focus appeared to be on aligning industrial production capabilities with defense readiness, reinforcing the link between strategic manufacturing and personnel training as part of a comprehensive defense posture. [Citation: Defense ministry summaries]