Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu went to the command headquarters of a group of forces deployed in Ukraine, where he talked about materiel requirements and distributed awards, the military said Tuesday.Shoigu examined the Vostok group of forces days after the Defense Ministry claimed the capture of eastern Ukraines Soledar and army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov was put in charge of Russias military campaign in Ukraine.

Russias Defense Ministry stated Shoigu heard reports on the development of Moscows invasion from group commander Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov and other unit leaders.It did not define the area of the meeting.It included that Shoigu highlighted the need to make sure supplies to frontline soldiers, offer them safe real estate and focus on the work of medical and logistics units, in addition to the requirement to arrange work surrounding fortifications.Numerous reports because the start of the war last February have documented supply, food and devices lacks, in addition to substandard living conditions, for Russias getting into force.An almost three-minute video with the majority of its sound muted shows Shoigu, dressed in combat uniform, sitting in on a videoconference and handing out medals to several servicemen.

It was followed by Shoigus address and interviews with two awarded soldiers.

You serve with self-respect, safeguard our homeland, assist those who require aid and do everything to bring closer the day called Victory Day, Shoigu said.Following the meeting, Shoigu announced that Russia would grow the size of its Armed Forces to 1.5 million people from 2023-2026, syncing the increasing troop numbers with new weapons shipment dates.This is Shoigus second evaluation of the Vostok group given that the summertime of 2022.

Shoigu formerly inspected the Vostok group on July 18, where he purchased generals to target Ukraines Western-supplied long-range weapons.Analysts stated the Defense Ministrys appointment of Gerasimov to lead Russias forces in Ukraine was an effort to assert authority over the private military group Wagner, whose leader had actually declared sole credit for seizing Soledar.Shoigu also checked the so-called unique military operation zone twice in December.

Investigative reporters at the time geolocated the command post visited by Shoigu on Dec.

18 as a village in annexed Crimea, more than 80 kilometers from the frontline.