The Russian Defense Minister orders the Russian army to prepare to respond to any negative developments about the upcoming NATO exercises in Europe
The Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu has directed the military forces to be ready to respond immediately to any negative developments in the areas of the Defender Europe maneuvers that will be implemented by NATO soon.
Shoygu, in a speech on Thursday, at Crimea during military exercises carried out by the Russian army there, indicated that NATO has significantly intensified its military activities near Russia’s southern borders, including reconnaissance and training activities.
The Minister of Defense emphasized that Russia is closely following the transfer of NATO forces to the area of the upcoming exercises, pointing out to the establishment of coordination centers that work to receive NATO forces and shipments associated with the exercises in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
Shoygu said that NATO is currently deploying one of the main groups of its forces in the Black Sea basin, pointing to the arrival of shipments of weapons and military equipment, especially to Greek ports.
In this regard, Shoygu ordered the Russian army to “continue to monitor the situation in the Defender Europe training areas and to prepare to respond immediately in the event of any unfavorable developments”.
NATO’s Defender Europe in May and June is expected to become NATO’s largest exercise since the Cold War.
