MOSCOW, May 31 - RIA Novosti. The new 20 military units and formations that will be created in the Western Military District will help neutralize new threats and challenges to Russia's security from NATO and significantly strengthen the overall potential of the Western Military District, Igor Korotchenko, a well-known military expert and editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, told RIA Novosti on Monday.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu said during the board of the military department that in response to the actions of NATO countries led by the United States in the western strategic direction, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will form about 20 new formations and military units in the ZVO.
"This is quite a natural and timely decision, given the aggravation of the military-political situation in Europe, the active preparations of NATO for military operations against the Russian Federation. The new formations will be designed to fend off both current and future threats in connection with the activities of the North Atlantic Alliance, and will strengthen the security of our western borders in order to make them insurmountable in the event of a military expansion of the NATO bloc," Korotchenko said.
The expert noted that it will be possible to form new units both within the existing staff strength of the Russian Armed Forces, and at the expense of its increase.
"It is possible that an organizational decision will be made to increase the number of staff, if necessary, but this is already the prerogative of the Russian Security Council and the President of the Russian Federation as the supreme commander-in-chief. So far, we have the opportunity within the existing size and infrastructure to find an opportunity for new formations," the source said.
