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Russia Should Use Advanced Weapons in Ukraine, Shoigu Says

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, October 28, 2022. (Sputnik/Handout via Reuters)
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, October 28, 2022. (Sputnik/Handout via Reuters)
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Russia Should Use Advanced Weapons in Ukraine, Shoigu Says

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, October 28, 2022. (Sputnik/Handout via Reuters)
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends a meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, October 28, 2022. (Sputnik/Handout via Reuters)

Russia's defense minister said on Wednesday that the armed forces should use new advanced weapons systems in the conflict in Ukraine. 

"It is necessary to continue the modernization and creation of promising systems with their subsequent use during the special military operation," Sergei Shoigu said at a defense ministry meeting of senior generals. 

Shoigu, one of President Vladimir Putin's closest allies, did not specify which advanced weapons should be used, though he said he wanted to discuss with the generals new ways of improving artillery and missile attacks. 

"New ways of using them in combat are being tested," Shoigu said, without giving specifics. 

In Ukraine, Shoigu said, counter-battery fire was being improved by using long-range rocket systems such as Tornado-S and high-power "Malka" artillery systems. 

"This makes it possible to effectively hit foreign rocket and artillery systems," Shoigu said. His comments were shown on state television. 

The conflict in Ukraine, likely the deadliest in Europe since World War Two, has killed tens of thousands on both sides and raised fears of a much broader conflict between the US-led NATO alliance and Russia.  

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Inauguration of Venezuela's Maduro Draws International Condemnation

People in Caracas, Venezuela rest on stairs featuring a mosaic portraying the eyes of the country's late president Hugo Chavez during the inauguration of his successor, President Nicolas Maduro, for a third term. Betty Laura Zapata / AFP
People in Caracas, Venezuela rest on stairs featuring a mosaic portraying the eyes of the country's late president Hugo Chavez during the inauguration of his successor, President Nicolas Maduro, for a third term. Betty Laura Zapata / AFP
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Inauguration of Venezuela's Maduro Draws International Condemnation

People in Caracas, Venezuela rest on stairs featuring a mosaic portraying the eyes of the country's late president Hugo Chavez during the inauguration of his successor, President Nicolas Maduro, for a third term. Betty Laura Zapata / AFP
People in Caracas, Venezuela rest on stairs featuring a mosaic portraying the eyes of the country's late president Hugo Chavez during the inauguration of his successor, President Nicolas Maduro, for a third term. Betty Laura Zapata / AFP

Nicolas Maduro's inauguration on Friday for a third term as Venezuela's president drew widespread admonishment from countries that have accused him of stealing the July election.
The defiant 62-year-old leader, who has shrugged off allegations of electoral fraud and insisted he won another six-year term, was also congratulated by states that have maintained support for his controversial government.
Here are the main reactions to Maduro taking the oath of office in Caracas.
United States
Washington hiked its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $25 million on Friday.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that Maduro "clearly lost" last year's election and called the swearing-in ceremony "an illegitimate presidential inauguration."
In a separate announcement, the US Treasury Department said it was sanctioning eight senior officials who lead "key economic and security agencies enabling Nicolas Maduro's repression and subversion of democracy in Venezuela."
On Thursday, incoming US president Donald Trump defended Venezuela's opposition party leader and its exiled presidential candidate as "freedom fighters."
European Union
The EU said Friday that Maduro was not Venezuela's legitimate president.
Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said "Maduro lacks all democratic legitimacy," as Brussels announced sanctions on a further 15 officials from Venezuela's National Electoral Council, judiciary and security forces.
Britain UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Maduro's "claim to power is fraudulent," as London also announced further sanctions on individuals associated with the Caracas government.
"The outcome of July's elections was neither free nor fair and his regime does not represent the will of the Venezuelan people," Lammy said.
United Nations
UN chief Antonio Guterres called Friday for Venezuelan authorities to release all those who have been "arbitrarily detained" since the elections.
"The Secretary-General strongly condemns the detention of a large number of persons, including opposition figures, journalists and human rights defenders since the July 28 presidential elections," spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.
Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Maduro on his swearing-in, according to the lower house of parliament.
Lower house speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, who attended Maduro's inauguration in Caracas on behalf of Putin, "conveyed congratulations from Russia's head of state", it said in a statement.
- Regional states -
In a sign of Maduro's pariah status, only two leaders -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Nicaraguan president and ex-guerrilla Daniel Ortega -- attended his inauguration.
Traditional left-wing allies, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, pointedly stayed away from the ceremony.