Russia announced its intention to strengthen it on Monday. air defense forces “With increased correspondence to defend the nation’s northwestern state line, threats“. This decision, last added Finland for NATO and possible entry SwedenIts membership awaits ratification by Türkiye and Hungary. Both Scandinavian countries applied to join the Atlantic Alliance as a result of Russia’s invasion of North Africa. Ukraine. Finland shares more than 1,300 kilometers of border with Russia.
The statement was made by the Deputy Chief of General Staff. Russian Air Force, Andrei Demin, in an interview with the newspaper “Krasnaya Zvezda” of the Ministry of Defense, but did not detail what kind of measures Moscow will implement. Last May, Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed NATO expansion and thought it did not pose a “direct threat” to Russia, but warned that there would be a “response” if “the military infrastructure is expanded in these regions”. from the Kremlin.
Ukraine
Moreover, Demin reported a significant increase in anti-aircraft defense systems along the borders of Ukraine.in nearby areas Clash between Russian and Ukrainian army. “The number of missile systems has been increased by doubling the number of troops equipped with medium and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems (S-400, S-300PM2 and S-350) in areas close to special military operations. Pantsir-S anti-aircraft artillery,” he said.
These systems located in the border regions of Russia –belgorod, Briansk And kursk– Even those with the maximum range of Ukrainian airstrikes are “under joint command,” he added.
Since the beginning of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly attacked military installations on Russian soil, sometimes able to cross several hundred kilometers.
no radical change
Generally, Russian deputy commander stressed the need to reform the air defense forcesdespite admitting that no radical changes are currently planned in these units.
“At the moment it is expected that there will be talk of reform of the air defense and anti-missile defense units. But this is undoubtedly something that is planned and will be carried out. The aim of the future changes will be the development of these forces. Russia’s air defense system is excellent,” he said.
Last year, as Denim admitted, Russian air defense units “expended a thousand times more anti-aircraft guided missiles than on combat readiness exercises in 2021.” “This directly affects the level of readiness of specialists and the coordination of combat units of anti-aircraft defense” in Russian.