Russia to beef up military presence in Crimea

The Russian government Tuesday said the deployment of troops in the Crimean direction has become a priority of the Southern military district, one of the four operational strategic commands of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

"Military-political situation at the southwestern strategic direction has changed dramatically since the start of the year due to Crimea's accession into Russia," Xinhua quoted Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as telling a ministry board meeting.

He also mentioned the complicated situation in Ukraine and the need to increase foreign military presence "in the direct proximity" of the Russian borders.

"That situation corrected everyday work of the district commanders," a media report quoted Shoigu as saying, adding the military group in Crimea must become "self-sufficient and full-fledged".

Crimea was included into the zone of responsibility of the Southern military district following the peninsula's incorporation into Russia in mid-March.

Crimea and the city of Sevastopol together make up Russia's newest federal districts, which were not recognized by Ukraine and the West.