Russia to reinforce its troops near Ukraine's border due to Donbas situation, - Russian Defense Minister Shoygu

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said at the ministry's board meeting on Wednesday, Censor.NET reports citing TASS.

"It is important to note that the military and political situation in the south-western strategic direction remains unstable. It is primarily negatively affected by the situation in southeast Ukraine and the activity of international terrorist organizations and groupings on the territory of the North Caucasus," the defense minister said.

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"In these conditions, work has to be continued to improve the combat structure of the district's troops, hire contract servicemen and equip troops with new types of armament and military hardware and to develop military infrastructure," the defense minister said.

Last year, the Southern Military District's combat capabilities were boosted by Russians by 10 percent, including by means of continued hire of contract servicemen and the arrival of new types of armaments and the improvement of the stationing system, the defense minister said.