“Russia will boost its military forces near its borders with NATO states, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said as he lashed out at the US and its allies for providing support to Ukraine.
Shoigu told a meeting of defense officials Wednesday that “strengthening of troop formations” on Russia’s western borders was necessary in response to what he said was a buildup of forces by North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries.
He singled out the ‘militarization of Poland’ and said the entry of Finland and Sweden to NATO membership would be ‘seriously destabilizing’ for Russia’s security. Taking into account the armed forces of eastern European countries, about 360,000 service people are stationed in the immediate vicinity of the borders of Russia and its ally Belarus, he said.”