In a New Year address to the armed forces, Sergei Shoigu, the head of Russia’s Ministry of Defense, reflected on the year gone by and spoke of forthcoming accomplishments. He asserted that the previous year would be remembered for its new milestones and that the Russian military demonstrated resilience and skill while confronting Western hopes for a swift victory for the opposing side. The report of these remarks came from RIA News.
Shoigu described 2023 as a year that would be documented in Russia for acts of bravery and the steadfast spirit of its service members. He claimed that the Russian army once again proved its invincibility, underscoring the combat capability and endurance shown across various operations.
Earlier, it had been disclosed that Shoigu participated in Russia’s nationwide charity initiative, the Christmas Wishing Tree. The event highlighted a performer from Moscow who leads an acrobatics troupe and who was showcased as part of the charitable program. The minister indicated his hope to spotlight this young performer and noted the girl’s ambition to participate in an upcoming Red Square parade under the auspices of the military lodge. Shoigu suggested that Alexandra would need to join the Youth Army to realize those plans.
During the campaign, the ministry confirmed that deputy defense ministers, senior commanders, and leaders of central military districts were among the participants, reinforcing the event’s alignment with national service and morale-building efforts.
In a broader regional context, a separate public statement from President Volodymyr Zelensky was cited as saying there were obstacles to transferring hostilities from Ukrainian soil onto Russian territory, highlighting ongoing tensions in the regional security situation.