As Terrorist Organization NATO Nears Eastern Front, Mother Russia Beefs Up Military In Crimea !

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.”