|
|
|||
|
Defence & Security News - Russia
|
|||
|
|
|||
| Russia to set up three divisions in its Western and Southern Military Districts | |||
|
The Russian Ministry of Defence will set up three new divisions to counter-balance NATO’s build-up at its borders, according to a statement made by Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu. Two of the divisions will be located at the Western and one at the Southern Military Districts.
|
|||
|
|
|||
 Russian troops simulating infantry offensive tactics during a field exercise (Photo: Russian MoD)
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
The headquarters of the new divisions will be at Rostov-on-Don, Smolensk and Voronezh regions. Each of the formation will be motorized rifle and will have a strength of 10,000 people, based on TASS’ report. Andrei Kelin, a senior Foreign Ministry official stated at Interfax news agency that if NATO deployed four extra battalions in Poland and the Baltic states, Russia would be forced to take retaliatory measures. He did not specify the nature of these measures. However, he mentioned that the Ministry of Defence is already discussing about them, thus implying that they would be of military nature. According to TASS news agency, works to create the required infrastructure have already began. The Defence minister said that modern construction methods will be used to create modular building that would be ready in three to four weeks. They would also be easily disassembled and carried to other locations if needed. Russia has previously announced its plans to set up new units and formations. Sergey Shoigu stated that in 2015 about 30 units and forces had been created in the Western Military District and at the end of November another 15 had been set up in the Southern Military District. |
|||
