SAMARA. Jan 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has started an inspection of the Volga-Ural Military District.
The troops of the district maintain Russia's national security in its Southern borders, he told reporters upon arrival in Samara on Tuesday.
The South and the states to the south from Russia pose much military threat. That is why the district is a priority, the minister said.
"We place this district as a priority in the system of Russia's national and military security," Ivanov emphasized.
He also said that the Volga and Ural military districts had been united into one in 2001 to efficiently integrate the personnel and the assets in order to cover the Middle Asian strategic direction.
The minister said that in the end of the inspection he would visit the 2nd Joint-Arms Army headquartered in Samara. The Army is the core of the district.
"First of all, I will look into the situation in the high- alert units," the minister said.
Ivanov also said he would visit all the Russian military districts and fleets this year.