MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - Russia will continue to consolidate its forces in the southwestern sector, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"A complicated situation connected to the conduct of the special military operation in Ukraine persists in the southwestern strategic sector. In these circumstances, the Southern Military District is continuing to enhance [its] combat capabilities," Shoigu said at a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry board on Wednesday.
The military district will see its needs satisfied with the delivery of more than 16,000 pieces of modern weaponry and military equipment, and the construction and commissioning of more than 360 military infrastructure facilities, he said.
"Meanwhile, great attention is being paid to healthcare and social guarantees, as well as to providing service housing and permanent housing to service members," he said.
"Today, 744 service members of the Southern Military District have moved into their service apartments together with their families," he said.
"The fulfilment of measures under the district's plan of activities makes it possible to successfully reach the goals set for it, [and] to ensure the country's military security in this strategic sector," Shoigu said.