Russia Ukraine war: Putin puts deterrence forces on alert after UK Minister's statement on NATO involvement
Khimki (Russia), March 5: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday stated that UK Foreign Minister Liz Truss's remark about NATO's possible involvement in the Ukraine conflict has prompted Moscow to put its deterrence forces on high alert.
According to a report by Sputnik, the Russian President at a meeting with female flight crews of Russian airlines explained that Russia decided to bring the deterrence forces into a special combat duty regime after Truss "blurted out that NATO could be involved in the conflict" in Ukraine.
"The reaction followed -- they said that nothing of the kind was meant, but no one rebuked her, no one disavowed these statements. If anyone told us something, as in, this is her personal opinion, do not pay attention. Nobody [said] anything. What should we think about this? Of course, we took it as a signal," the Russian President added.
Putin further said that the Russian army has nearly completed the demolition of military infrastructure in Ukraine.
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"The first thing they did was demolish the military's entire infrastructure. Not all, but some, mostly warehouses containing weapons, ammunition, aviation, and air defence systems. The destruction of air defence systems requires a certain length of time: they must first be opened, then hit. This task has been done in a practical sense," Putin said during a meeting.
Only professional troops, not conscripts, are engaging in Russia's military offensive in Ukraine, according to Putin, and the government has no plans to include them in the operation.
"Only men who have taken a very responsible choice in their lives - to defend their motherland - are allowed to take part in this operation. They do their job with pride," he added.
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-PTC News
