- Responding to what it calls are increasing NATO threats, Russia will create 20 new military units to be based in the country’s west
- Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu pointed out to a growing number of flights by U.S. strategic bombers near Russia’s borders, along with the presence of NATO warships and increasing numbers of drills by alliance forces
- In April, Russia deployed a massive buildup of its military in Russia’s south and southwest, near the Ukrainian border, while Moscow later withdrew its forces
MOSCOW, Russia: Responding to what it calls are increasing NATO threats, Russia will create 20 new military units to be based in the country’s west.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the announcement Monday, noting what he claims are a growing number of flights by U.S. strategic bombers near Russia’s borders, along with the presence of NATO warships and increasing numbers of drills by alliance forces.
Shoigu said that NATO’s build-up “destroys the international security system and force us to take the relevant countermeasures..We will form another 20 units and formations in the Western Military District by the year’s end.”
Shoigu also said that some 2,000 pieces of weaponry was assigned to units in western Russia last year.
In April, Russia deployed a massive buildup of its military in Russia’s south and southwest, near the Ukrainian border. Moscow later withdrew its forces.
Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine in 2014. More than 14,000 people have been killed in seven years of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
