Defense

Russia to set up new motor rifle division near western border

A new motor rifle division in the Smolensk Region in western Russia is currently being formed, Chief of Russia’s General Staff Main Operations Department Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi said on Wednesday.

"A division with its headquarters in Yelnya is currently being set up. It remains unclear whether it will be part of the 1st Guards Tank Army or the 20th All-Arms Army," Rudskoi said at the 5th International Security Conference in Moscow.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in January that three new divisions were planned to be set up in the western strategic direction. Each of them will comprise some 10,000 servicemen.