MAKHACHKALA (Dagestan). Aug 15 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Dagestan on Wednesday to inspect the unfinished infrastructure of the Caspian Flotilla, which is being redeployed to Dagestan from Astrakhan, Shoigu's press secretary Rossiyana Markovskaya said.
"The defense minister has begun a working trip to the Southern Military District. He will inspect the unfinished infrastructure of the Caspian Flotilla in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk," Markovskaya told the press.
The minister will also chair a conference on the development of the Caspian Flotilla's bases in Dagestan, she said.
The Caspian Flotilla is the naval component of the Southern Military District currently stationed in Astrakhan. It is tasked with ensuring Russia's interests in the Caspian Sea. The flotilla comprises several naval brigades and squadrons, as well as coastal troops.
Shoigu announced the Caspian Flotilla's relocation from Astrakhan to Kaspiysk on April 2, 2018.