MOSCOW. Oct 27 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry is neutralizing threats and challenges that exist near the country's western border and improving the combat structure of the Western Military District, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting of the ministry's board on Wednesday.
"Under these circumstances, we are implementing a package of measures to neutralize emerging threats and challenges. The combat structure and the network of bases of the Western Military District are being improved in accordance with the plan," Shoigu said.
More than 20 measures were taken in 2017 to heighten the district's combat potential, Shoigu said.
Shoigu said in early 2016 that the ministry was forming two additional divisions in the Western Military District as a way to compensate for NATO's growing potential in Europe, sometimes in direct proximity to the Russian border.
According to the ministry, three additional divisions are being formed in the western strategic sector: two in the Western Military District and one in the Southern Military District.
It was also announced in 2016 that the 11th Army Corps had been created in the Baltic Fleet.
The Western Military District said in a statement on October 18 that it has procured more than 220 tanks and armored vehicles as well as 12 new fighter jets in 2017.
"Formations and military units of the Western Military District have received more than 220 new tanks and armored combat vehicles, including over 20 BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, 15 BMP-3 infantry combat vehicles, and 90 T-72B3 tanks. The air-defense and air-force formation has procured 12 new Su-30SM multi-role super-maneuverable fighter jets," the statement said.
The Western Military District has also received over 350 multi-role vehicles, among them various modifications of army trucks, this year.