MOSCOW, September 16. /ITAR-TASS/. Deployment of a full-scale, self-sufficient forces in Crimea is a top-priority task of Russia’s southern military district, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.

He said it had been motivated by the deterioration of the situation in Ukraine and growing foreign presence in the vicinity of Russian borders. “The military political situation in southwestern strategic areas has dramatically changed since the beginning of the current year,” he told a regular meeting of the Russian defence ministry’s board.

“To a greater extent, it stems from the territorial expansion of the southern military district after Crimea acceded to Russia. Apart from that, the situation is Ukraine has dramatically deteriorated and foreign military presence in the exact vicinity to our border has increased. Such state of things has made certain adjustments in the routine work of the district’s command,” he said.

He also said that the ministry’s board would consider the implementation of the southern military district’s plan of activities till 2020 “with due account of measures to ensure Russia’s security in the territory of the Crimean federal district.