Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to deploy more soldiers in the Arctic, reinforcing Moscow’s military presence in the region.
Speaking at the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk on Thursday, Putin urged the Russian government to accelerate the construction and renovation of garrison towns in the polar zone.
“This is, of course, related to strengthening our military component in the region. The number of soldiers here will grow,” he said, emphasizing Russia’s need to assert its rights amid what he described as NATO threats.
Putin accused NATO of increasingly viewing the far north as a potential battleground.
“Of course, we are only concerned about the fact that NATO countries are increasingly identifying the far north as a bridgehead for possible conflicts and are rehearsing the use of military under these conditions,” he said. (DPA)
