Shoigu attempts to salvage image amidst Ukraine Armed Forces' offensive – British intelligence

russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has increased his public activity over the past week in an attempt to salvage the military image of russia amidst Ukraine's counteroffensive.

This is stated in a new report by the UK Ministry of Defence.

According to British intelligence, Shoigu's media activity is associated with the desire to show that his department maintains control over all strategic issues during a period when Ukraine has begun to accelerate the offensive operations of the Armed Forces.

During the past week, the russian minister has made at least two comments on russia's defensive operations, including significantly exaggerated claims about Ukraine's losses. This contrasts with other key periods of the war when he disappeared from the public eye.

Shoigu also called on the russian defence industry to double their efforts and criticised officers of the Western Military District for not sending reserve armoured vehicles to the front quickly enough.

"Shoigu is likely acutely aware of the need to maintain a positive image in the face of increasingly unmasked criticism from some fellow russians," emphasises British intelligence.

Background. Last week, russian dictator putin stated that the russian army was lacking modern weapons. This statement poorly aligns with the image cultivated for years by russian propaganda of the russian army as one of the best in the world. Before invading Ukraine, putin himself stated that the proportion of modern weapons in the army was over 70%.