Russia announced today that a division equipped with Bastion missile systems has been deployed to Paramusyr, one of the Kuril Islands in the North Pacific, some of which lay claim to Japanese territory.

According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the move is part of a broader strengthening of Russia’s defense systems in its vast territories in the Far East.

Shoigu spoke to the military a day after President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping confirmed their “limitless” cooperation in Kremlin talks by signing new cooperation agreements.

“To contain Russia and China, the United States is significantly increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening political and military ties with its allies, while continuing to create a new American security architecture in the region,” Shoigu said in a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Shoigu said the Bastion system would strengthen Russia’s security around the Kuril Islands.

Japan, a close US ally, lays claim to the four islands of the Kuril archipelago, in its southern part, which were captured by Soviet troops at the end of World War II. Japan does not lay claim to Paramushir, one of the Kuril Islands in the northern part of the archipelago.

According to Shoigu, the Russian armed forces in the east of the country received about 400 units of modern military equipment over the past year, including Su-57 fighter jets and anti-aircraft missile systems.

“The military capabilities of the Eastern Military District have increased significantly,” he said.

Shoigu also said that the modernization of Moscow’s air defense system will be completed this year, as the number of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory increases.

“This year we will complete the modernization of Moscow’s missile defense system,” Shoigu said, adding that two new air defense units will be trained and equipped with new-generation S-350 anti-aircraft missile systems. “At the same time, we will complete the construction of 621 military infrastructure facilities for the needs of the Air Force,” the Russian minister added.

Russian officials accused Kyiv of a series of drone strikes deep into Russian territory. The Russian capital has never been directly attacked since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. In January, images were posted on social media showing the installation of Pantsir S-1 complexes in Moscow designed to intercept cruise and ballistic missiles.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Shoigu said that Russian forces have destroyed more than 20,000 Ukrainian military installations since the start of the “special military operation,” as Moscow calls it.

Source: APE-MPE, Reuters, AFP.