After poison rumors: Putin minister suddenly reappears - just a Kremlin trick?
Created: 04/19/2022, 20:45
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in conversation with President Vladimir Putin.
(Archive photo) © ITAR-TASS/Imago Images
Numerous media have long puzzled over the whereabouts of Russian Defense Minister Shoigu.
Now he stepped up and criticized the West.
Moscow - Russia has accused the West of dragging out the war by continuing to supply arms to Ukraine.
"The United States and the Western countries they control are doing everything they can to delay the special military operation," Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said
in Moscow on Tuesday, according to the
Interfax agency .
"The growing volume of foreign arms shipments shows their intention to provoke the Kiev regime to fight 'to the last Ukrainian'."
In the past few weeks, rumors have been circulating about the state of health of the Russian defense minister, as he has not appeared in public* for a few weeks.
It was speculated that Shoigu had suffered a heart attack.
Another theory even said that Shoigu was poisoned*.
However, his current appearance cannot be taken as proof that the 66-year-old politician is doing well.
The Kremlin repeatedly worked with recorded videos in its communication.
Defense Minister Shoigu reappeared: "Special Operation" is going according to plan
Moscow only calls the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine* that has been going on for more than seven weeks "special military operation".
At the same time, Shoigu announced that the armed forces would "consistently fulfill their plan to liberate the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics".
In these areas, pro-Russian separatists had proclaimed people's republics.
To support them, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin* ordered the attack on February 24.
In contrast to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Shoigu did not comment specifically on the announced Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Lavrov had previously spoken on Indian television that the next phase of the "special operation" had begun.
Ukraine claims that the large-scale attack in the east has been underway since Monday.
(dpa/fmü)
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