{"id":3584,"date":"2025-12-17T18:10:38","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T19:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/?p=3584"},"modified":"2025-12-19T13:48:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T13:48:13","slug":"nato-oreshniks-ukraines-golden-toilets-putins-defense-ministry-board-meeting-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/17\/nato-oreshniks-ukraines-golden-toilets-putins-defense-ministry-board-meeting-takeaways\/","title":{"rendered":"NATO, Oreshniks, Ukraine\u2019s \u2018golden toilets\u2019: Putin\u2019s Defense Ministry Board meeting takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Russian leader has noted battlefield gains, set out military priorities, and dismissed Western \u201cnonsense\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Andrey Belousov delivered a wide-ranging assessment of the Ukraine conflict and Russia\u2019s military posture at an expanded Defense Ministry Board meeting on Wednesday, addressing battlefield developments, new weapons priorities, and what they described as deepening problems in Kiev.<\/p>\n

Here are the key takeaways from their remarks:<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s battlefield claims and \u201cstrategic initiative\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2025, Russian forces have liberated more than 300 populated areas, including major cities and fortified territories, Putin said, noting that the Russian army \u201chas gained and continues to hold the strategic initiative along the entire line of contact.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Belousov echoed that assessment, saying the army \u201cconfidently maintains the strategic initiative\u201d<\/em> and is conducting \u201cactive offensive operations in virtually all directions.\u201d<\/em> The pace of advance by the \u2018East\u2019, \u2018Center\u2019 and \u2018West\u2019 force groupings has accelerated compared to 2024, he noted.<\/p>\n

\n
\n READ MORE: <\/span>Russia has pushed Ukrainian forces from key frontline towns \u2013 MOD to Putin
\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n

The defense minister also cited the latest battlefield claims, saying Russian forces had taken control of Krasny Liman and Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), which he described as a \u201csymbol of resistance of both the Ukrainian army and its Western backers.\u201d<\/em> He also said that the capture of Kupyansk would expand a \u201csecurity buffer zone\u201d<\/em> in Ukraine\u2019s Kharkov Region and reduce the threat of shelling of the Lugansk People\u2019s Republic. Russian forces had liberated 24 settlements and 400 square kilometers in Russia\u2019s Zaporozhye and Ukraine\u2019s Dnepropetrovsk regions since November, according to Belousov.<\/p>\n

Putin also praised North Korean soldiers who have fought alongside Russian forces in the Kursk Region. <\/p>\n

Ukraine\u2019s losses and reduced combat capability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ukraine has lost nearly 500,000 servicemen this year alone, Belousov said, adding that Ukraine\u2019s combat capability had been \u201creduced by about a third\u201d<\/em> over the past year, stripping Kiev of the ability to replenish its forces through forced mobilization of civilians.<\/p>\n

According to the minister, Ukraine has lost more than 103,000 weapons and pieces of military equipment this year, including about 5,500 of Western manufacture \u2013 almost double the total recorded the previous year.
<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was obvious from the start has been confirmed \u2013 the collapse of the Ukrainian army\u2019s defenses is inevitable,\u201d<\/em> Belousov said, stressing that \u201cfinally, Kiev\u2019s Western backers understand this clearly.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Kiev\u2019s deepening crisis and \u201cgolden toilets\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ukraine\u2019s statehood is \u201cunraveling,\u201d<\/em> Putin said, pointing to massive corruption scandals linked to Vladimir Zelensky\u2019s inner circle and symbolized by \u201cgolden toilets.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"Russian
Ukraine led by \u2018criminal gang on golden potties\u2019 \u2013 Putin<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The scandal, which has sent shockwaves across the Ukrainian political landscape since kicking off in mid-November, involved Zelensky\u2019s longtime close associate Timur Mindich, who fled the country last month hours before he was due to be arrested for extortion. Reports also surfaced of a gilded toilet in the businessman\u2019s elite Kiev apartment.<\/p>\n

The case drew in multiple other high-profile figures, leading to the downfall of the justice and energy ministers and the dismissal of Zelensky\u2019s enigmatic chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, who was widely regarded as the key figure in the Ukrainian power structure.<\/p>\n

The Russian president also emphasized what he described as mass desertions in Ukraine. More than 100,000 criminal cases have been opened in the country, while the number of deserters \u201cruns into the hundreds of thousands,\u201d<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n

Western \u201clies\u201d<\/em> and NATO\u2019s \u201cmajor war\u201d<\/em> preparations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Putin dismissed Western claims that Moscow was planning an imminent attack as \u201clies and nonsense,\u201d<\/em> saying such statements are being made \u201cquite deliberately\u201d<\/em> to raise hysteria in Europe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have repeatedly stated that this is a lie, nonsense, pure nonsense about some imaginary Russian threat to European countries,\u201d<\/em> Putin said.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"FILE
Western claims of Russian threat \u2018lies and nonsense\u2019 \u2013 Putin<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He accused NATO countries of \u201cpreparing for a major war\u201d<\/em> by building up and modernizing offensive forces, while \u201cbrainwashing\u201d<\/em> their populations with claims that a clash with Russia is inevitable. Putin said that NATO\u2019s efforts to supply Ukraine with large-scale military aid are \u201ccontinuing uninterrupted,\u201d<\/em> adding that NATO countries are \u201cactively building up and modernizing offensive forces, while creating and deploying new types of weapons, including in outer space.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Belousov said NATO\u2019s actions, including bolstering military spending and force levels, deploying medium-range missile systems, and streamlining logistics for rapid troop movement to Eastern Europe, indicate that preparations for a confrontation with Russia are underway. \u201cThe alliance\u2019s plans have set the early 2030s as the deadline for their readiness for such action\u2026 We are not threatening, but we are being threatened,\u201d<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n

NATO is working on a so-called \u201cmilitary Schengen\u201d<\/em> to speed up transfers of equipment and personnel to Eastern European borders, Belousov stated, adding that the US-led military bloc has increased the range of its nuclear warheads, while its budget is set to grow by more than 1.5 times.<\/p>\n

Oreshnik missile systems and deterrence priorities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s newly developed medium-range Oreshnik missile system will be placed on combat duty before the end of the year, Putin said, naming it as one of the weapons meant to \u201censure Russia\u2019s strategic parity, security, and global positions for decades to come.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He also brought up the unlimited-range Burevestnik cruise missile and the underwater Poseidon drone, saying both have reached development milestones this year. \u201cWe will keep working on those systems, tuning and improving them, but we already have them,\u201d<\/em> Putin said.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"RT\"
\u2018No defense against\u2019 Russia\u2019s Oreshnik missile \u2013 ex-Pentagon analyst<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Putin said missile systems, drones, and robotics are being delivered to Russian troops \u201con a continuous basis,\u201d<\/em> adding that, in 2025, the Navy has received new submarines, as well as 19 surface ships and auxiliary vessels. Improving strategic nuclear forces remains a priority \u201cas before,\u201d<\/em> the president said, adding that they will continue to play the main role in deterring aggressors and maintaining the global balance of power.<\/p>\n

Belousov agreed that ensuring credible deterrence against aggression is a key priority, listing the commissioning of a new Borey-A-class strategic nuclear submarine, the deployment of two additional Tu-160M strategic bombers, and the rearmament of Strategic Missile Troops units with Yars systems as examples of how this is being done.<\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s strategic nuclear forces are 92% modernized, the president stated, adding that \u201cthere is nothing like this in any other country,\u201d<\/em> and \u201cthere is no other army like this [Russian] in the world \u2013 it simply does not exist.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Russia\u2019s \u201cfull sovereignty\u201d<\/em> and strategic demands<\/strong><\/p>\n

Putin said Russia has sought diplomatic solutions \u201cas long as there was even the slightest hope of success,\u201d<\/em> but argued that \u201cthose who have convinced themselves that Russia could be spoken to in the language of force are fully responsible for those missed opportunities.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He said the most important outcome of Moscow\u2019s Special Military Operation is that \u201cRussia has regained the status of a fully sovereign nation and has become sovereign in every sense of the word.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"Admiral
NATO must be \u2018more aggressive\u2019 towards Russia \u2013 top commander<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Putin also said Moscow insists that NATO fulfill the promises it made to Russia not to expand eastward.
<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was publicly stated that there would be no NATO expansion to the East. And what happened? They couldn\u2019t care less \u2013 one wave of expansion after another,\u201d<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Moscow\u2019s hopes for dialogue<\/strong><\/p>\n

Putin said Russia supports \u201cmutually beneficial and equal cooperation\u201d<\/em> with the US and European countries, as well as the creation of a unified security system across Eurasia. He pointed to progress in bilateral talks with Washington, saying he hopes \u201cthe same will eventually happen with Europe, but it is unlikely with the current political elites.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Putin also argued that Russia never became \u201ca full and equal part\u201d<\/em> of the West after the Soviet Union\u2019s collapse, adding: \u201cToday it turns out there is no civilization there \u2013 only total degradation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He accused Western countries of deliberately adding fuel to the flames of the Ukraine conflict while ignoring Russia\u2019s interests, warning that if Kiev refuses to engage in substantive talks, Russia will liberate its territories \u201cby military means.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0
<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was not us who started the war in 2022. It was destructive forces in Ukraine with Western support \u2013 in effect, the West itself unleashed this war. We are only trying to end it, to stop it,\u201d<\/em> Putin said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Russian leader has noted battlefield gains, set out military priorities, and dismissed Western \u201cnonsense\u201d Russian President Vladimir Putin and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3584"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3584"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3587,"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3584\/revisions\/3587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}