Russia’s Shoigu: Weapons Production Key to Success in Ukraine

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meet in New Delhi, India, April 28, 2023. (Reuters)
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meet in New Delhi, India, April 28, 2023. (Reuters)
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Russia’s Shoigu: Weapons Production Key to Success in Ukraine

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meet in New Delhi, India, April 28, 2023. (Reuters)
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meet in New Delhi, India, April 28, 2023. (Reuters)

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Russia was inflicting heavy blows to Ukraine across the entire frontline, but that the supply of weapons was crucial to ensuring the success of what Moscow calls its "special military operation".

In a meeting with Russia's top military officials, Shoigu said Russian forces were engaged in combat operations "along the entire line of contact" and were fighting not only Ukraine but also "unprecedented military assistance from the West".

However, he said Russia was successfully attacking Ukrainian depots storing Western-supplied weapons.

Shoigu said Moscow had taken steps to boost its arms production to support the war, as he said Russian forces' success on the battlefield would "largely depend on the timely replenishment of weapons" and other military equipment.

"The country's leadership has set defense enterprises the task of increasing the pace and volume of production in a short time," Shoigu said, according to a transcript of his remarks published by his ministry.

Shoigu said the army had all the ammunition it needed for use on the battlefield this year, but called on a major rocket producer to urgently double its output of high-precision missiles.

Russia has in recent days killed and injured dozens of people in its largest strikes on Ukraine for weeks.

On Monday, the head of the Wagner private militia, Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose troops are leading the assault on Bakhmut, renewed his accusation that the defense ministry was not supplying enough ammunition to his fighters.

Prigozhin said he needed 300 tons a day of artillery munitions, but was getting only a third of that.



Russia Warns of Consequences for Striking Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. (Reuters file)
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. (Reuters file)
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Russia Warns of Consequences for Striking Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. (Reuters file)
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. (Reuters file)

Moscow warned against military action targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure following US President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb the country if it fails to reach an agreement.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov criticized Trump’s threats of military force, warning that escalation would have catastrophic consequences for the entire region.

Russia opposes coercive solutions, aggression, and military strikes, Ryabkov said.

He condemned Washington’s threats against Iran as an attempt to impose its will on Tehran, cautioning that further escalation would only complicate the situation and require greater efforts in the future to contain the risks of a new conflict in the Middle East, where tensions are already at a peak.

Moscow has previously offered to mediate between Washington and Tehran. Analysts suggest Russia is seeking to strengthen its diplomatic leverage by positioning itself as a key player in resolving the nuclear standoff. Russian officials believe they can offer security guarantees to both sides, similar to those provided during the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations.

Moscow and Washington have reportedly discussed, through contacts in Saudi Arabia, the possibility of Russia facilitating dialogue on Iran. However, Trump’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric has raised concerns in Moscow.

Ilya Vaskin, a researcher at the Center for the Study of the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia at HSE University, said issuing ultimatums is a hallmark of the Trump administration’s negotiating style. According to Vaskin, Washington is trying to pressure Iran into a swift agreement and secure a new nuclear deal on its own terms.

Lev Sokolchik, a senior researcher at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the HSE University, noted that Iran has made significant progress in its nuclear program and missile capabilities in recent years. He argued that Trump is trying to curb Iran’s military ambitions, which could threaten U. interests in the region.

Sokolchik warned that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon within months, a scenario that deeply concerns both the United States and Israel.