Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visits troops in Ukraine

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meet in New Delhi, India, on April 28, 2023. Adnan Abidi/Reuters/FILE

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited frontline troops in Ukraine, Russia's Defense Ministry said Friday.

Shoigu was briefed by commanders of the Centre military group and thanked troops for "conducting successful offensive operations in the Lyman direction," the ministry said.

Shoigu stressed the importance of combat tactics, such as inflicting “pre-emptive fire on the enemy while knocking him out of the held positions," it said.

The defense minister's trip comes days after Russia's top general, Valery Gerasimov, visited troops in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.

Shoigu and Gerasimov were previously the targets of attacks by Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner mercenary group, who accused them of incompetence before he launched a short-lived rebellion in June.