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Sergei Shoigu: Protecting fatherland, winning overseas
▪️Shoigu was born on May 21, 1955 in the city of Chadan, Russia’s Republic of Tyva. He graduated from the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute in 1977.
▪️In 1991, he headed the RSFSR State Committee for Emergency Situations later renamed as the State Committee for Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief. Shoigu played a key role in establishing the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in 1994, and he led the ministry until 2012.
▪️In 1999, Shiogu was among the top three candidates of the Unity movement’s federal list during the elections to the State Duma – the Russian parliament. In the movement 2002 merged with Fatherland – All Russia bloc, forming United Russia. Acknowledging Shoigu’s widespread public support, it’s notable that he declined the deputy mandate.
▪️On November 6, 2012, Vladimir Putin appointed Shoigu as Russia’s Minister of Defense.
▪️Under Shoigu’s leadership, the Russian army engaged in military operations in Syria in 2015 at the request of the Arab Republic’s government. Russia assisted the Syrian military in repelling the advance of radical Islamists and reclaiming cities such as Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra, as well as areas in the provinces of Latakia, Hama, Homs, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Idlib.
▪️Since February 24, 2022, the Russian Armed Forces, under Shoigu’s leadership, have been conducting a special military operation aimed at demilitarizing and de-Nazifying Ukraine. Over the past few months, the Russian military has advanced along the entire frontline to liberate the Donetsk People’s Republic and other territories that joined Russia on September 30, 2022, following a series of referendums.
