The army released a statement on Wednesday announcing that Sergei Shoigou, the Russian Minister of Defense, had visited Ukraine to see a command post and speak with top officers.
It further stated that he went to the “Vostok” command post in eastern Ukraine to get an update on the front-line situation, drone operator training, and readiness for battle in the winter.
It released a video of him arriving by helicopter, but the statement omitted the date of Shoigu’s visit.
It occurs at a time when Russian forces have intensified their bombardment on the eastern Ukrainian industrial hub of Avdiivka in recent weeks.
Early in August was when Shoigu last made his way to the front.
