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More Russian military forces to the Arctic

Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu.

Military forces in the Arctic will be strengthened with a naval fighter regiment and an anti-aircraft regiment by the end of 2015, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu says.

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At a conference with top-ranking military officials today, the Army General said that the ministry is busy establishing aviation and air defense commands that will be part of the country’s Arctic forces. “By 2018 we will have a self-contained command in the Arctic, with units both on the mainland and on islands,” he said according to the Ministry’s web site. 

Shoygu underlined that the expansion of military forces in the Arctic is connected to development of the Northern Sea Route and the need to protect national interests in the region. 

As BarentsObserver reported, vessels of the Northern Fleet and personnel from the Alakurtti-based Arctic brigade are currently involved in the biggest military drills ever to be held in the Taimyr region.