Russia increases military presence in Crimea

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia has increased its military presence in Crimea, the country’s defense minister said on Monday.

The army group on the peninsula was reinforced to be able to repel any threat both from the ground and the sea, Sergey Shoygu said, presenting the results of his ministry's efforts to enhance the country's defense capabilities to Russia's lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma, in Moscow.

Shoygu informed members that the ministry had encircled the entirety of Russia’s borders with radars and other detection equipment.

Currently, a space detection and control systems are being deployed, he added.

"Military infrastructure is being built throughout the country, including Arctic regions and military bases located abroad," he said.

He underlined that the army was equipped with the most cutting-edge weaponry tested in real combat conditions, including Syria.

Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum.

Turkey, as well as the UN General Assembly, viewed the annexation as illegal.

Ukraine has also blamed Russia for separatist violence in eastern Ukraine near the border with Russia.