Russia to deploy new divisions on Western flank, form nuclear regiments

Shoigu’s announcement was consistent with a multi-billion dollar overhaul of Russia’s military, which is currently carrying out air strikes in Syria after helping annex Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014. 

Shoigu did not explain the motivation for forming the new divisions, but said it would be one of the most important tasks for the defense ministry this year. He said every military district should also expect to undergo spot checks in 2016. 

“Our main effort should go into strengthening the potential of our strategic nuclear forces and of fulfilling the space defense programmer,” the RIA Novosti agency quoted Shoigu as telling a meeting. 

“Five rocket regiments, equipped with modern rocket complexes, will enter active service in 2016.” 

It was also necessary to steadily improve the infrastructure supporting the nuclear forces, he said, singling out the facilities where the country’s nuclear-armed submarines and long-range nuclear bombers were based