Russia’s Defense Minister Proclaims Revival of Military Might
Moscow, Russia — Today, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu proclaimed the revival of Russia’s military might during a speech to lawmakers. He showcased the Syrian campaign as a prime example of the country’s return to prominence, as Vladimir Isachenov reports for The Associated Press from Moscow.
Military Achievements Under Shoigu
During his address, Shoigu outlined the military achievements accomplished under his six-year tenure as Defense Minister. He told lawmakers that Russia’s armed forces have transformed into a highly mobile force capable of projecting power to distant regions.
Russia’s Growing Arsenal
Shoigu highlighted significant additions to the Armed Forces arsenal during his leadership. Over the past six years, the Russian military has acquired:
• 1,000 warplanes and helicopters
• 3,700 tanks
• 109 intercontinental missiles
• 108 submarine-launched ICBMs
• 10 brigades with state-of-the-art short-range missile systems
Raise in the Ranks
The structure of Russia’s military has also shifted under Shoigu’s watch. The armed forces now stand at 1 million personnel, including 400,000 enlisted troops—a sharp contrast to past decades when manpower relied almost exclusively on the draft.
This growth allowed the creation of 136 battalions of professional soldiers, many of them combat or combat-support units. Shoigu noted that every brigade or regiment now fields two professional battalions and one draftee battalion, with draftees kept out of combat.
Syria as a Testing Ground
Shoigu pointed to Russia’s involvement in Syria as proof of its revitalized power. The conflict allowed the military to test new weapons in live combat, including shipborne and long-range cruise missiles. He also highlighted the expanded use of drones, laser-guided artillery, and precision weapons, all of which demonstrated combat effectiveness during operations.
Russia and the West
Shoigu’s declaration of renewed strength is likely to complicate Russia’s already turbulent relationship with the Trump administration. Tensions between Moscow and Washington have been strained by:
• The U.S. withdrawal from the 1987 INF Treaty over alleged Russian violations (denied by Moscow)
• NATO’s expanding presence along Russia’s western borders, viewed as a threat to Russian security
• Russia’s controversial annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014
• Ongoing conflict in Syria, where Russia supports the Assad government with airstrikes
These developments raise questions about future diplomacy between the two powers. Will the relationship move toward cooperation—or confrontation? For now, the world watches to see how this high-stakes geopolitical rivalry unfolds.
