ST. PETERSBURG. Feb 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Forces of the Western Military District are ready to build up the military presence in the Arctic, but the Russian administration has the final say, district commander Lt. Gen. Anatoly Sidorov told a press conference in St. Petersburg on Friday.
"The military-political administration of the country will make the final decision. Our hardware and armaments can be used widely, from topical to Arctic areas, thanks to their performance specifications. Servicemen will not have to acquire special skills to use this hardware in the Arctic," Sidorov said.
Yet some of the units deployed in circumpolar areas possess equipment specially designed for the Arctic conditions, the commander stressed.
"Whenever the orders are given, we will be able to fulfill them," he concluded.