Russia will deploy two military units on Iturup and Kunashir, part of the Kuril Islands, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has said.
“The grouping will be changed by its structure. It is highly likely that staff will be slightly cut but it will be reinforced by the newest communications systems, electronic warfare and radar stations,” he added.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had earlier announced of the increase in its military presence to ensure the security on the South Kuril Islands.
The S-400 missile defence systems could also be deployed to the islands to protect them from possible attacks, according to RIA Novosti.
The defence minister is also analysing the integration of the machine gun-artillery division with the Russian forces located in Vladivostok, Sakhalin and Kamchatka.