Russia to Form 20 New Military Units in West to Counter NATO

Russia to Form 20 New Military Units in West to Counter NATO
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu speaks during a meeting with high level military officials in Moscow on May 31, 2021.Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
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MOSCOW—The Russian military will form 20 new units in the country’s west this year to counter what it claims is a growing threat from NATO.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the announcement Monday at a meeting with top military officials. He pointed to a growing number of flights by U.S. strategic bombers near Russia’s borders, deployments of NATO warships, and increasingly frequent and massive drills by alliance forces.