MOSCOW. Feb 17 (Interfax-AVN) - No decision has been made to set up a united strategic command around the Northern Fleet base for pursuing national interests in the Arctic region, the General Staff spokesman told Interfax-AVN.
"The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to deploy a group of troops in the Arctic. No decision was made to set up a united strategic command," the source said, commenting on a number of media reports that a new strategic command will be created around the Northern Fleet base to coordinate the troops to serve Russian interests in the Arctic.
A group of troops and forces will be set up in the Arctic in 2014, Russian Defense Minister Army Gen. Sergei Shoigu said in late December.
"A group of troops and forces is due to be formed in 2014 to ensure military security and to protect the national interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic," Shoigu said at a final collegium meeting at the Defense Ministry.
Efforts began to restore the Arctic airfield network and infrastructure, he said. "We are planning to restore airfields and mooring structures on the Franz Josef Land and the New Siberian Islands," the minister said.
The Temp airfield reopened after refurbishment, Shoigu recalled.
"We are planning to restore other northern airfields: Tiksi, Naryan-Mar, Alykel, Amderma, Anadyr, Rogachevo and Nagurskaya," the defense minister said.