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Russia forms two motor rifle brigades for Arctic army grouping

A multi-service army grouping was being created to protect Russian national interests in the Arctic region, Chief Commander of Russian Ground Troops Colonel-General Oleg Salyukov says
A motor rifle brigade in Murmansk ITAR-TASS/Lev Fedoseev
A motor rifle brigade in Murmansk
© ITAR-TASS/Lev Fedoseev

“Arctic formations will be armed with off-road vehicles, including two-section carrier vehicles, snowmobiles, amphibian vessels. Weapons and special outfits will contribute to successful fulfilment of tasks in northern latitudes. Combat training will be provided with due account of climatic conditions,” the chief commander added.

A northern combined strategic command will be formed in the Arctic region on the basis of the Northern Fleet by the end of this year, a high-ranking source in Russian Defense Ministry told TASS earlier. “Along with the Northern Fleet and other formations transferred from the Western Military District, the northern combined strategic command will also incorporate new groupings deployed in the Arctic region, including on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, New Siberian Islands, Franz Josef Land, and the Wrangel island,” the source added.