In reaction to NATO border expansion, Russia created two additional military districts, as stated by Sergei Shoigu, the minister of defense on Tuesday.
At a Moscow conference with Russian military leaders, Shoigu stated that the decision was made in reaction to the alliance’s enlistment of Finland and Sweden.
As a result of NATO military build-up close to Russia’s borders and its projected expansion with the addition of Finland and Sweden, we have strengthened our force formations in the northwest and western strategic directions.
“Two strategic territorial associations of the Armed Forces have been created – the Leningrad and Moscow Military Districts,” he stated.
Following Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Sweden and Finland decided to renounce their long-standing policy of military neutrality and sought to join NATO in May 2022.
The date of Finland’s NATO membership was April 4, 2023. At first, Sweden’s application was met with opposition from Hungary and Turkey because of ongoing disputes about counterterrorism matters. But when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared in July 2023 that his country and Ankara had discovered a common ground, Ankara withdrew its protest.
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