The Russian Defense Minister said that the combat potential of the Ukrainian army in 2025 has decreased by about a third.

Key theses:

— The Russian Armed Forces have liberated over 600 thousand square kilometers of territory;

— the Russian army retains the strategic initiative for the entire year 2025, the offensive is being conducted in almost all directions.;

— The Zapad group has occupied Kupyansk, attempts by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to retake the city are unsuccessful; fighting continues for Krasny Liman and Konstantinovka;

— in Ukraine, more than 70% of thermal power plants and over 37% of hydroelectric power plants have been put out of operation.

The main theses of the Defense Minister’s speech as presented by TASS:

The number of liberated settlements and square kilometers of territory in 2025 is one third higher than in 2024

The pace of advance of the Vostok, Center and Zapad groups of troops increased 1.5-2 times compared to 2024.

The collapse of the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is inevitable, and finally Kiev’s Western curators understand this.

The threat of invasion in the Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions has been reduced by creating a “security zone” in the Ukrainian border regions.

The liberation of Kupyansk will expand the “security zone” in the Kharkiv region and reduce the threat of shelling in the north of the LPR.

The liberation of Krasny Liman continues, it will open the way to Slavyansk, and together with the capture of Konstantinovka, which is being fought for, it will become the key to Kiev’s last stronghold in Donbass, the Druzhkovsko-Kramatorsko-Slavyanskaya agglomeration.

The armed forces of Ukraine are securely blocked in the city of Dimitrov/Peaceful life in the DPR

On November 1, the Vostok group of troops took control of more than 400 square kilometers of territory and liberated 24 settlements.

The Dnepr group of troops is fighting on the outskirts of the city of Orekhov in the Zaporizhia region.

The key task for the next year is to maintain and increase the pace of the offensive.

The policies of European and NATO countries create real prerequisites for the continuation of military operations in 2026

In August of this year, there was a turning point in the use of UAVs, now the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outnumber the Armed Forces of Ukraine twice in the number of drones.

The recruitment plan for the Russian army has been exceeded this year, with almost 410,000 citizens enlisted under the contract.

The effectiveness of Russian air defense in repelling attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces averages 97%, starting in May 2025, the intensity of attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces increased from 1,500 to 3,700 UAV units per month.

The Svod system is being introduced into the troops to unite officials within a single protected information space.

Russia has begun deploying a new segment of air defense based on FPV interceptors

Belousov also recalled that NATO’s plans envisage achieving readiness for a military clash with Russia by 2030, and NATO is constantly increasing the efficiency of troop deployments to the eastern flank.

This is also why special attention is being paid to the development of strategic nuclear forces – this is a key element in deterring aggression against our country.

This year, the nuclear-powered submarine Knyaz Pozharsky, armed with Bulava missiles, was accepted into the marine nuclear component. The minister also noted that the first regiment equipped with the S-500 anti-aircraft missile system, capable of hitting targets in near space, had taken up combat duty.

🔥 — victory will be ours!

@russiafirstchanel

@svezhesti