Viktor Khrenin went to an independent mechanized brigade of the Western Operational Command in order to examine the readiness of an army unit that is being checked as part of the comprehensive inspection in line with the Defense Ministry’s and the General Staff’s plan. The minister handed over the order to put on alert a number of army units and units of the 6th Independent Guards Mechanized Brigade for the sake of carrying out missions to the brigade’s commanding officer.

The military personnel will have to promptly prepare weapons, military and special hardware for relocation to new areas where the personnel will train for combat. Close attention will be paid to management matters, to preparations for and actual marches, to the organization of guarding and camouflage, to the counteraction of the enemy’s sabotage and reconnaissance forces as well as unmanned aviation in the face of active radio warfare.

«Today we have begun another stage of testing the readiness of the Armed Forces. One of the units of the Western Operational Command is being tested. Today I have checked the readiness of one of the units, handed over combat orders for consequent actions to the brigade commander, and listened to the main elements of the brigade commander’s plan regarding the sequence of actions of other units. On the whole, the units are coping with their tasks,» Viktor Khrenin noted.

He emphasized that weather conditions do not impede the fulfillment of tasks. «Today, while working with unit commanders, I noted that if we are ready and able to perform combat missions in such weather conditions, then no enemy can scare us. People are supplied with warm clothing, the mood is good, and everyone is determined to accomplish the task,» the minister emphasized.

The defense minister also explained why it is necessary to conduct inspections in the Armed Forces. «Just as athletes need to train constantly, so do we, people in uniform, need to conduct inspections all the time. It is one thing to make plans (this is an important stage in management work), but we can only check their feasibility when we start to take practical steps. We immediately see problems and shortcomings. Naturally, we respond to them, incorporate them into subsequent plans, and recheck things again. This is not the first inspection of this scale in the Armed Forces. You could say that we have already reached a systematic basis: over the past few years we have inspected four large formations,» Viktor Khrenin summed it up.