Russian Defense Ministry will start building a new naval base of the Pacific Fleet on the island of Matua of the Kuril ridge. The works to build the new base will start this year.
“The decision to build a naval base of the Pacific Fleet on the island has been made. The construction will begin this year,” RIA Novosti reports citing a senior military source.
In pictures: Russian Pacific Fleet on guard of the Far East
In cooperation with the Defense Ministry, the Russian Geographical Society sent an expedition to Matua Island in May to carry out research work. During the mission, the researchers found several narrow-gauge railway platforms and elements of the railroad tracks.
The commander of the Eastern Military District, Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin stated that the strengthening of the military infrastructure in Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and in the Arctic zone before 2020 was a priority objective of state importance.
According to him, the Russian leadership takes “unprecedented steps” to strengthen the military infrastructure and rearm troops in the Far East of Russia.
In addition, Russia has been conductive active construction of military infrastructure on the Kuril Islands of Iturup and Kunashir. The total area of the new facilities has already exceeded 390,000 square meters.
Before the end of 2016, missile complexes “Ball” and “Bastion” as well as unmanned aerial vehicles “Aileron-3” will be deployed on the Kuril Islands.