Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he was "proud" of the action of his soldiers in Ukraine, where Moscow says it is conducting a military operation.

"We are proud that during the special military operation our fighters act with courage, professionalism, like real heroes," Putin said in televised remarks during a Kremlin meeting with military academy graduates.

Referring to Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the intervention in Ukraine, he said "they will be overcome".

And "in the face of new threats and risks, we will further develop and strengthen our armed forces", he said, promising the new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile would be commissioned by the end of the year.

"There is no doubt that we will be even stronger," Putin added.

On February 24, Putin sent troops into neighbouring pro-Western Ukraine to "de-militarise" and "de-nazify" the country.

Putin has repeatedly claimed Russia's economy has managed to weather the barrage of unprecedented international sanctions.

'We must defend our families': In Zaporizhzhia, women learn urban combat
Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine (AFP) June 22, 2022 - Down at a shooting range in Zaporizhzhia in south-eastern Ukraine, six women are learning how to use Kalashnikov assault rifles as part of an urban combat training programme.

Crouching down behind makeshift walls, one takes aim at a target in the distance, before scurrying over to another position. Most are young and many are dressed in olive-green fatigues.

It's their third session at "The Sixth Sense", a security training centre in the city where a team of experts has just set up the scheme teaching women gun skills and urban combat tactics.

With the fighting edging ever closer to the city, 47-year-old Natalia Basova didn't think twice about signing up.

For her, the front line is just too close.

"I knew how to use weapons before the war. I used to visit shooting ranges, I was very interested," says Basova, who is on the course with her 29-year-old daughter Ulyana Kiyashko.

"But now everyone needs to know about it," she says, wincing at the loud crack of a gunshot behind her.

Basova's husband and son are now on the front line, as is her son-in-law. While their men are out fighting, she and her daughter are trying to learn as much as they can about urban combat.

"Our instructor teaches us how to take aim and how to use a weapon correctly," she told AFP.

"We knew how to shoot but we didn't know to do it properly, so you don't injure your companions."

Until now, the centre has only been training military personnel or territorial defence fighters.

But more and more women are coming forward to be trained in Zaporizhzhia so they are prepared if Russian forces push into the city.

Under martial law, the training is free for all of the city's residents.

- 'We won't let the city down' -

Sergey Yelin, who set up the training centre, says the basic course involves teaching students how to stand and take aim, trigger control techniques, breathing and different ways of firing weapons.

For women, the programme lasts 15 hours but he says the basic course can be mastered in five or six.

"We put together a few tactical exercises for civilians because we all know that if the enemy enters the city, there is street fighting," said Yelin, 47.

"And that usually happens in difficult locations like ruined houses, in basements or inside shops."

The instructors work with both the military and civilians offering training in three areas: basic weapons handling, a specialised course and a tactical element for Kalashnikov assault rifles, normally for the special forces.

Since the Russian invasion began on February 24, some 4,000 people have been trained at the centre.

"We need to know how to do this for ourselves and for our families because we are right on the front line," says 33-year-old Yana Piltek, another student.

Piltek says she is not afraid of fighting and wouldn't hesitate to defend her hometown.

"We are training to win in a fight in the city. And if it comes to it, we won't let the city down."

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Hopes fade for swift NATO accession for Finland, Sweden
Stockholm (AFP) June 20, 2022
Finland and Sweden discussed their stalled NATO bids with Turkey in Brussels on Monday, but Ankara dampened hopes that their dispute will be resolved before an alliance summit next week. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met representatives from the three countries to try to make progress on the Nordic nations' membership applications, which have been blocked by Ankara. While he described the talks as "constructive" Turkey made it clear there was still work to be done. "The Madrid NATO ... read more