Yevkurov says Russian army dropped peacetime rules that hindered soldier training
In short
Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said the Russian army, during the special military operation, moved away from requirements that hindered commanders from training soldiers quickly. He said training programmes were changed several times to lengthen training, and that peacetime manuals, courses and safety requirements were revised. He made the remarks in an interview with the magazine Politika.
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Russian Deputy Defence Minister General of the Army Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said that during the special military operation the Russian armed forces moved away from requirements that hindered the training of soldiers. According to Vedomosti, Kommersant and RBC, he said these requirements had prevented commanders from training soldiers more quickly. Vedomosti, citing TASS, said Yevkurov made the remarks in an interview with the print magazine Politika; Kommersant described Politika as a new magazine. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Yevkurov said training programmes were adjusted several times in the direction of longer training periods. "We changed the programmes several times toward increasing training periods, understanding that this was necessary. And we also moved away from peacetime in terms of manuals, courses, safety requirements and so on, and moved to reality," he said, as quoted by Kommersant. Vedomosti reported that the programmes were lengthened taking into account the needs of servicemen, and that peacetime manuals, courses and safety requirements were revised. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to Kommersant, Yevkurov said the army had "abandoned conventions", which helped to "create favourable conditions for the commander". He also said, as reported by Kommersant, that the technologies used in combat are constantly changing, so effective countermeasures and methods have to be developed continuously. [ 3 ]
RBC reported that Yevkurov also noted that the experience of previous military conflicts is not entirely suited to modern combat. The official news agency TASS was the first of the outlets to publish the remarks, on the afternoon of 8 October, followed by Vedomosti that evening and by Kommersant and RBC on the morning of 9 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The remarks, carried by the official agency TASS and by three business outlets, describe how Russia's armed forces have changed the way they prepare troops during the special military operation. According to RBC, Yevkurov also said the experience of previous military conflicts is not entirely suited to modern combat.
Key facts
- Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov said Russian forces, during the special military operation, moved away from requirements that hindered the training of soldiers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- According to Yevkurov, the requirements had prevented commanders from training soldiers more quickly. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yevkurov said training programmes were changed several times in the direction of longer training. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yevkurov said peacetime manuals, courses and safety requirements were revised. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The remarks were made in an interview with the magazine Politika. [ 2 , 3 ]
- According to RBC, Yevkurov said the experience of previous military conflicts is not entirely suited to modern combat. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Yevkurov said Russian forces during the special military operation moved away from requirements that hindered soldier training. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yevkurov said training programmes were changed several times toward longer training. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Yevkurov said peacetime manuals, courses and safety requirements were revised. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the experience of previous military conflicts is unsuited to modern combat. Only RBC reports this remark, in a short summary.
- Yevkurov's comment that combat technologies are constantly changing and require new countermeasures. Only Kommersant reports this remark.
- A reference to "failures" during the operation. Kommersant's text mentions "failures" in an incomplete passage that does not make clear who said it or in what context.
- How much longer training periods have become. The documents give no figures for the changed training periods.