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Russia's top defense official said on Wednesday Russia will conduct long-range bomber training patrols over the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans to guarantee its military presence there in response to complicated geopolitical situation.
"The plans of long-haul aviation training envisage flights along the Russian borders, over the Arctic ocean, in the western part of Atlantic and eastern part of Pacific ocean," Interfax news agency quoted Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying.
The Russian strategic air force would also maintain flights over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, he added.
His remarks came two days after NATO reported a spike in Russia 's military flights over the Black, Baltic, and North seas as well as the Atlantic Ocean, pointing to simmering tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine.
Shoigu said the situation near Russia's south-western borders remained uncertain. "This is largely due to the situation in Ukraine, the fueling of anti-Russian tendencies by NATO and the increase in the foreign military presence in direct vicinity of our borders."
Russia's armed forces must be capable to guarantee the country' s security in that region, Shoigu said, adding that Russia would create a "full-fledged and self-reliant" army group on the Crimean Peninsula.
Relations between Moscow and Europe have strained over the crisis in Ukraine. Crimea, along with the port of Sevastopol, joined Russia in mid-March, which was rejected by Kiev and Western countries. Enditem
