Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the military-political situation in the Southwestern strategic direction remains difficult due to the attempts of a number of foreign states to increase their military presence near the southern and western borders of Russia.
Speaking at the board of the military department, Shoigu stressed that the military and political leadership of Ukraine seeks to destabilize the situation in the Donbas. In turn, the United States and NATO continue provocations in the airspace and waters of the Black Sea.
In addition, according to the Minister, the unstable situation is observed in a number of countries in the Middle East and Transcaucasia. "The alliance's attempts to counteract its normalization force us to take symmetrical measures of strategic deterrence and increase the combat capabilities of the troops of the Southern Military District," Shoigu stressed.
He noted that in 2020, the Southern Military District held 54 organizational events, the main of which was the formation of another motorized rifle division.
In addition, the district is continuously re-equipped with modern weapons and equipment. So, according to Shoigu, last year the troops received more than 3,200 units of modern weapons and military equipment. The share of modern weapons in units and formations was 70 percent.
Alexander Stepanov
