The ministry said that Shoigu listened to the report of the commander and staff officers of the Center Group of Russian forces in the special military operations area.
The minister also handed award weapons to commanders who distinguished themselves during combat operations.
Report on Liberation of Avdeyevka
The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian troops had been pushed back more than 10 kilometers from their positions during Russian operations to liberate Avdeyevka.
"The commander of the group, Col. Gen. Andrey Mordvichev, reported to the minister of defense of the Russian Federation that during the operation to liberate Avdeyevka, the enemy was driven back from its positions by more than 10 kilometers. Russian troops continue the offensive in their directions," the ministry said.
It said Ukrainian soldiers who remained in Avdeyevka are surrendering in large numbers, with about 200 servicemen having been captured.
It is noteworthy that the Russian Defense Ministry said that Shoigu has paid special attention to the need for humane treatment towards captured Ukrainian military personnel.
Intensity of Ukrainian Artillery Fire Persists
Despite Ukraine's complaints about shell shortage, the intensity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ artillery fire has not decreased, the commander of Russia's Center group of troops, Col. Gen. Andrey Mordvichev, told Shoigu.
“Group commander Andrey Mordvichev reported to General of the Army Sergei Shoigu that despite the Kiev regime’s whining about an acute shortage of artillery ammunition, the intensity of enemy artillery fire has not decreased,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to the Defense Ministry, Russian servicemen are exposed to almost the entire NATO military-industrial potential in the field of special military operations.
Regular Units for the Use of UAVs Created
The Russian Defense Ministry also said that special military squads have been created in the Russian Armed Forces for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.
“The commander of the group, Andrey Mordvichev, reported that in accordance with the instructions of the minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, regular units for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles have been created in formations and units. They are armed with both reconnaissance and attack drones,” the ministry said.
Sergei Shoigu announced that the Russian army will get drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI). The effectiveness of the use of reconnaissance-attack and reconnaissance-fire systems by Russian units has increased extremely, the ministry said.