--- title: Andrei Belousov url: https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/andrey-belousov/ description: 3 verified quotes from Andrei Belousov, Minister of Defence, with sources. section: FRAME --- ![Illustration: a redacted Cold War intelligence-dossier collage centred on a world map of influence operations, with the U.S. Capitol among the evidence.](https://propagandaarchive.org/static/generated/hero-home.jpg) [Quotes](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/) · Russia # Andrei Belousov ![Andrei Belousov, official portrait, May 2024](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/images/putin-government/andrey-belousov.jpg) [Photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Belousov-HR.jpg): Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (mil.ru), CC BY 4.0 Minister of Defence · Russia On the regime page: [Russian Federation under Vladimir Putin](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/putin-government/#andrey-belousov) 3 quotes, oldest first. [Filter with other speakers](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/#speaker=andrey-belousov). 1. > “Ultimately, what was obvious from the very beginning has been confirmed: the collapse of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s defence is inevitable. Finally, Kiev’s Western patrons clearly came to realise this as well.” — Original (Russian) — В конечном итоге подтвердилось то, что было очевидным с самого начала: обрушение обороны ВСУ неизбежно. Наконец и западные кураторы Киева это отчётливо понимают. — English: English text published by the Presidential Press and Information Office, en.kremlin.ru (excerpts of Defence Minister Belousov's report) — December 17, 2025 · Speech · Moscow, expanded meeting of the Ministry of Defence Board — Belousov summarised the armed forces' results for 2025 at the annual board meeting, which President Putin attended. The figures and assessments are the Ministry's own and have not been independently verified; Ukraine disputes them. — Report by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov at the expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board, Moscow, 17 December 2025 (excerpts, kremlin.ru) [Source](https://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/78801) 2. > “With respect to the political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the so-called Ukrainian conflict, we clearly see attempts by European leaders and the Kiev regime to evade any resolution of this issue. This pertains specifically to the prolongation of the conflict with the aim of maximally weakening our country. Simultaneously, the accelerated preparation of NATO’s combined armed forces for confrontation with Russia by the 2030s has begun. Such a policy creates real preconditions for the protraction of hostilities into the next year, 2026.” — Original (Russian) — Все мы знаем, что сегодня предпринимаются политико-дипломатические усилия по разрешению так называемого украинского конфликта. В то же время отчётливо видим попытки европейских руководителей и киевского режима уклониться от решения этого вопроса. Речь идёт о затягивании конфликта с расчётом на максимальное ослабление нашей страны. Одновременно началась форсированная подготовка объединённых вооружённых сил НАТО к противостоянию с Россией на рубеже 30-х годов. Такая политика создаёт реальные предпосылки для продолжения военных действий и в следующем, 2026 году. — English: English text published by the Presidential Press and Information Office, en.kremlin.ru (excerpts of Defence Minister Belousov's report) — December 17, 2025 · Speech · Moscow, expanded meeting of the Ministry of Defence Board — Belousov described European and Ukrainian leaders as seeking to prolong the war, and NATO as preparing for confrontation with Russia in the 2030s. NATO governments dispute that characterisation. — Report by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov at the expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board, Moscow, 17 December 2025 (excerpts, kremlin.ru) [Source](https://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/78801) 3. > “In this regard, it is necessary to continue imposing our will on the adversary, acting pre-emptively, and constantly improving the methods and techniques of armed combat. We must persist in breaking through the defences of the AFU and destroying their military formations.” — Original (Russian) — В связи с этим требуется и дальше навязывать противнику свою волю, действовать на упреждение, постоянно совершенствовать способы и приёмы ведения вооружённой борьбы. Нужно продолжить взламывать оборону ВСУ, уничтожая их группировки войск. — English: English text published by the Presidential Press and Information Office, en.kremlin.ru (excerpts of Defence Minister Belousov's report) — December 17, 2025 · Speech · Moscow, expanded meeting of the Ministry of Defence Board — Said in the same report, as Belousov set out the Ministry's tasks for 2026. — Report by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov at the expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board, Moscow, 17 December 2025 (excerpts, kremlin.ru) [Source](https://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/78801)