Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said he was satisfied with his army's progress in Ukraine.
He had a warning ready for NATO.
Moscow - The Kremlin remains confident about its war in Ukraine.
Russian troops are successfully continuing their offensive near the embattled town of Bakhmut, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday at a Defense Ministry conference call.
Seven communities have been liberated in the past few days, including Soledar.
Combat operations "are developing successfully," said the Russian defense minister.
Shortly thereafter, Shoigu warned the West that the supply of offensive weapons to Kyiv would draw the NATO countries into the conflict with Ukraine and ultimately lead to an "unpredictable escalation".
This was reported by the Russian news agency Tass on Tuesday.
Shoigu said Russian soldiers were required to destroy the weapons supplied by the West both at the front and along the delivery routes.
Shoigu: "The enemy is suffering heavy casualties" despite arms deliveries from the West
According to the Ministry of Defense, Russian troops are said to have killed more than 6,500 Ukrainian soldiers in January alone. The Russian military also claims to have destroyed 26 warplanes, seven helicopters, 208 unmanned aerial vehicles, 341 tanks and armored fighting vehicles and 40 multiple rocket launchers.
"Despite the unprecedented military support from Western countries, the enemy is suffering heavy casualties," Shoigu said.
The information could not be independently verified.
"The United States and its allies are trying to delay the conflict for as long as possible.
To this end, they are supplying heavy offensive weapons and openly calling on Ukraine to conquer Russian territories,” Shoigu said.
"Such steps draw the NATO countries into the conflict and can eventually lead to an unpredictable escalation."
Video: Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visits Ukraine troops
Shoigu also criticized the Ukrainian leadership, which, in the Russian perception, was attacking "residential areas, hospitals and public gathering places" in the Russian-occupied territories.
They carried out "terrorist attacks" there.
Shoigu did not mention the repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
Rather, Ukraine's unwillingness to stop fires during Orthodox Christmas testifies to its "barbaric character."
Russia will continue to ensure "the safety of Russian citizens in the new regions and protect the residents of Ukraine from the genocide of the Kiev regime," Shoigu concluded his statement.
He alluded to the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Cherson annexed by Russia in violation of international law
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Here, too, Shoigu failed to mention the bitter resistance of the Ukrainian population against the Russian army.
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