MOSCOW, December 21. /TASS/. Russia is creating the Moscow and Leningrad military districts in response to NATO’s expansion, Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and First Deputy Defense Minister, said.

"Based on the experience gained in the special military operation, the necessary measures have been taken to improve the composition and structure of the armed forces and increase the capabilities of general purpose forces. Two new strategic territorial units of the armed forces - the Moscow and Leningrad military districts are being created in response to NATO’s expansion," he pointed out at a briefing for foreign military attaches summing up the Russian Defense Ministry's activities in 2023.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu first announced plans to create two new military districts at a ministry board meeting in December 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in turn, stated on December 17 that Finland’s move to join NATO had forced Moscow to create the Leningrad Military District.