Putin tells Shoigu priority direction of Russian Armed Forces’s deployment

Russian media reported the statement. 

Putin made the statement during a meeting with Shoigu on April 17 in Moscow.  

"It is obvious to us that today we have clear priorities for the use of the armed forces, and first of all, this concerns the Ukrainian direction and everything related to the protection of our people in Donbas and other new territories," Putin said.

He also said that the forces of the Russian Pacific Fleet, which were subjected to a surprise inspection on April 14, could be used in any direction. 

"The forces of the fleet in its individual components can certainly be used in conflicts in any direction. Therefore, I ask you to keep this in mind as well. In fact, the ministry as a whole and the General Staff are doing this, as I know," Putin assured.

• On April 15, ISW suggested that Russia hopes to make itself "more attractive" to China by launching exercises of the Russian Pacific Fleet to demonstrate its naval power.