Speaking today on state television, Russian Defense
Minister Sergey Shogu announced additional military deployments along the
nation’s southwestern flank with terrorist organization NATO, including the
deployment of more air defense systems and ground troops into the Northern
Caucasus, and additional troops into the Crimea.
Technically, Russia’s territory in the Northern Caucasus doesn’t border NATO, but is relatively close to Turkey, and has a substantial border with Georgia, which has NATO ambitions. Both Russia and NATO have been escalating deployments on their frontier in Europe, particularly in the Baltics, and this looks to be an extension of that.
The force in
Crimea is in a similar state, bordering Ukraine, which also seeks to join NATO.
Both Ukraine and Georgia are unlikely to successfully join NATO, however, as
each has extent territorial disputes with Russia which would need to be
resolved first. In Ukraine’s case, the dispute is over Crimea, which during
Ukraine’s regime change in early 2014 voted to secede, seeking and gaining
accession into the Russian Federation.
Shogu says the
troops in Crimea are now “self-sufficient,” no longer needing direct support
from the Russian mainland to operate. The US State Department responded to his
announced deployments by insisting Crimea “is and always will remain part of
Ukraine,” accusing Russia of occupying it militarily.
The overt
comments from the US and the rest of NATO about their opposition to Crimea’s
status is likely a big part of the reason for additional deployments, as
Ukraine itself, despite constantly predicting WW3 with Russia, has no real
capability to contest control over the peninsula.
Russia has strengthened its southwestern flank as NATO builds up its military presence and Ukraine remains unstable, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday in remarks the United States called contrary to efforts to lower tensions.
Moscow has
deployed more air defense systems in the southwest and has also deployed a
“self-sufficient” contingent of troops in Crimea, Shoigu told a meeting at the
Defence Ministry broadcast on state television.
“Since 2013 …
we have formed four divisions, nine brigades and 22 regiments,” he said. “They
include two missile brigades armed with Iskander missile complexes, which has
allowed to boost fire power to destroy the potential adversary.”
Shoigu said
“terrorist” groups were also active in the North Caucasus.
John Kirby, a
spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said Washington had seen the comments
and “if true,
we believe that this would appear to run counter to ongoing
efforts to stop violence and de-escalate the tensions in eastern Ukraine.”
Kirby said the
United States expected Moscow to fulfill its obligations under the Minsk
agreement to halt the war in eastern Ukraine and the Vienna document that
attempts to provide transparency about military movements in the region.
He noted that
the reports indicated the Russian buildup included troops in Crimea, which
Moscow seized and later annexed.
“Crimea is and
always will remain part of Ukraine. We’re not going to allow … the borders of
Europe to be redrawn at the barrel of a gun,” Kirby said, calling for an
“immediate end to the Russian occupation there.”
Source: Novorossia
Today 28-07-2016
