Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday that NATO applications were part of a growing military threat near the country’s western borders and that a response would be provided by setting up twelve “units and divisions” in the western military district. Reuters.
Russia’s military divides its operations into five districts. The western district roughly covers the European part of Russia. The twelve units will be set up before the end of the year, writes TT.
Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi, teacher in military strategy at the Swedish National Defense College, says that it is unclear what Russia means by units, but does not interpret it as meaning that it is about military bases – rather about units. At the same time, he wonders if it is possible at all.
“In the short term, I do not see that Russia would have the ability to set up new units at the same time as they fail to maintain the units that have been deployed in Ukraine,” he told DN.
At present, only about 20 percent of Russian ground forces are not tied up in Ukraine.
– What Russia has are some naval and air forces and tactical and strategic robots.
Joakim Paasikivi ser Shojgu’s statement as rhetoric.
– I think they feel compelled to come up with some kind of answer to the Swedish-Finnish NATO applications. This is aimed at both a domestic and an international audience, it must look like they are doing something.
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