Russian Military Boosts Defense in Far East - Commander

The Russian authorities are making unprecedented efforts to improve military infrastructure and rearm units based in Russia's Far East with modern weaponry to stave off any potential threats to the country's national security, Commander of the Eastern Military District Col. Gen. Sergei Surovikin said Friday.

SAKHALIN REGION (Russia's Far East) (Sputnik) — Surovikin stressed that the Sakhalin Island and the Kurils chain in North Pacific are "the eastern outpost of Russia" safeguarding the country's security and territorial integrity in the region.

"In order to stave off any, even minimal, threats, unprecedented steps are being taken by the Russian leadership and the Defense Ministry aimed at developing military infrastructure, planned rearmament of military units, and enhanced social protection of all military personnel and their families," Surovikin said at a meeting with the district's senior commanders.

According to Surovikin, the Eastern Military District will be supplied with over 700 units of military equipment and weaponry in 2016, including 60 aircraft and helicopters. In addition, over 20 drones and three ships will be sent to the district.

The number of military specialists serving in the Eastern Military District on a contract basis has increased by 22,000 in the past year, reaching 65,000 people, Surovikin said.

Over 6,500 Russian servicemen, 15 warships and over 10 aircraft will hold military drills in the Far East Kamchatka Territory, the Eastern Military District said Monday

© Sputnik / Vitaliy Ankov

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