Russia plans to form 20 military units on border with Ukraine, Baltic countries

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said this at a meeting with top military officials today, Ukrinform reports with reference to Kommersant.

“The actions of our Western colleagues destroy the international security system and force us to take the relevant countermeasures. We are constantly increasing our military strength. We will form another 20 units and formations in the Western Military District until the year’s end,” Shoigu said.

He added that the military units in western Russia have commissioned about 2,000 new pieces of weaponry this year.

As reported, Ukraine informed the OSCE that Russia continues to keep up to 100,000 servicemen, about 1,300 tanks, 3,700 armoured vehicles, up to 1,300 artillery systems, and 380 rocket systems along the border with Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

In early April, the Russian Federation amassed a group of about 110,000 troops near the eastern borders of Ukraine and in the occupied Crimea, raising concerns of the Ukrainian authorities and Western partners.

Later, Russia announced the withdrawal of its troops from Ukraine’s borders under the pretext of “successful completion of exercises”, but at the same time leaves its military presence and technical equipment near Ukraine’s borders and in the temporarily occupied territories of eastern Ukraine and Crimea.

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