These items include “robotic assemblies, intelligence support and electronic warfare equipment and, of course, logistical support, as has always been the case,” Shoigu said, according to TASS. “With the challenges we face today, we are moving in line with the plan to implement the state defense procurement contract,” Soigu said. “Given the fact that state funding for this year is 15% higher than for last year, we must of course take a look at what needs special attention when fulfilling the state contract for defense procurement.” Shoigu allegedly claimed that despite sanctions in Russia, the level of execution of state contracts is at 85%. External observers have expressed skepticism that Russia may continue to produce high-tech weapons amid severe international sanctions, especially if Russia’s supply of technology is restricted. In addition, Shoigu spoke of legal changes that would guarantee government support to Russian troops who have fought in Ukraine, TASS reported. Shoigu control has increased in recent days. On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov declined to comment on media reports that he had any health problems. Shoigu, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has kept a low profile recently despite leading the way in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The independent Russian news agency Agentstvo reported on Wednesday that Shoigu was in poor health, citing unnamed ministry sources. Peshkov avoided questions on Thursday about Shoigu’s health. “The Secretary of Defense has a lot on his plate right now,” he told CNN when asked about the alleged absence of Soigo. “The special military operation is in progress. Of course, this is not the time for media activity, that is perfectly understandable.” A Kremlin spokesman declined to comment on Agentstvo when asked by CNN. “I can not. You must not listen to Agenstvo’s media [these questions to] the Ministry of Defense “. Shoigu appeared on a Channel One show on March 18 that the Russian media said was from that day, but Russian journalists speculate that the event aired on March 11. The state television channel Russia 24 broadcast the fifth footage from a virtual meeting attended by Shoigu, but did not say when the meeting took place. The presenter reported that Peshkov claimed that Shoigu was reporting to the National Security Council on the military operation in Ukraine at a distance. The video, which was interrupted by a live interview, did not show Shoigu speaking, but a picture of him appeared on the screen among other participants in a video call referring to Putin. During a Security Council meeting televised in Russia on March 11, Shoigu told Putin that his invasion of Ukraine was successful, despite evidence to the contrary. Western leaders said at the time that the Russian military had encountered unplanned obstacles and resistance. “Everything is going according to plan, we report to you every day this week,” Shoigu said. He also claimed that the Russian army had received more than 16,000 applications from volunteers in the Middle East who wanted to take part in the war in Ukraine. The Defense Minister also asked Putin for more weapons to equip the separatist regions in Donbass, Ukraine. Russian military leaders, including Shoigu, have targeted their US counterparts, rejecting calls from the start of the invasion, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement on Thursday. He added that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark A. Milli “have sought and continue to seek telephone calls from their Russian counterparts. to occupy with”. “We continue to believe that engagement between US and Russian defense leaders is extremely important at this time,” Kirby added. CNN has previously reported that the last known time Austin last spoke with Shoigu was on February 18. Milley last spoke with Gerasimov on February 11.
The envoy resigns
Speculation about Shoigu’s health emerged as a longtime Russian government insider, Anatoly Chubais, became the Kremlin’s most popular figure who resigned from the war a month ago. Peshkov confirmed that Chubais had resigned as Putin’s climate envoy, but denied that he was aware of Chubais’s alleged opposition to the invasion of Ukraine. “No, the Kremlin knows nothing about this,” Peshkov told CNN when asked to comment on reports that Chubais had resigned over his disapproval of Putin’s decision to start a war in Ukraine. Peshkov also confirmed that his resignation letter should be sent to Putin himself. “Those who are appointed by presidential decree write (letters of resignation) addressed to Putin,” he added. Peshkov said Chubais was not a full-time civil servant and worked on a voluntary basis. Chubais first emerged as Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s finance minister in the 1990s before continuing to hold strong positions in the Russian energy industry. This story has been updated. Correction: An earlier version of this story misreported the last time Milley last spoke to Gerasimov. It was February 11th. CNN’s Radina Gigova and Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed to this report.
