31 May 2021 14:31

Russia to set up about 20 new military units, formations near western borders by end of 2021 - Shoigu

MOSCOW. May 31 (Interfax) - Russia plans to set up about 20 new military units and formations near its western borders by the end of 2021, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

"Actions by our Western counterparts are destroying the global security system and prompting us to take reasonable countermeasures. We're permanently upgrading the combat composition of our armed forces. About 20 military units and formations will be put together in the Western Military District by the end of the year," Shoigu said at a ministry board meeting on Monday.

The military threat in the Western strategic theater is continuing to increase, as NATO countries led by the United States are stepping up the intensity of flights of their strategic planes and the presence of their warships carrying cruise missiles, and the number of exercises involving them is growing, Shoigu said.

The organizational procedures "have been synchronized with the deliveries of advanced weapons and military hardware," he said.

"About 2,000 weapons are to be delivered to the district's forces this year," he said.

The Russian Armed Forces enhance the training level of its personnel and command bodies on a permanent basis, Shoigu said. "The intensity of the Baltic Fleet ships' combat training exercises has grown by 30%. Over 200 exercises with the use of various types of weapons have been conducted. The district's air force flying time has increased by 4%," he said.