Russia to Expedite Military Construction on Kuril Islands
16:59 08.06.2015(updated 18:10 08.06.2015)
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Monday ordered to double construction rates at military facilities on the disputed Kuril Islands.
VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik) – Addressing senior commanding staff at the Eastern Military District, Shoigu also stressed the need to quickly develop Russian military infrastructure in the Arctic.
The minister said these tasks will be under daily supervision of the National Defense Center.
According to the federal action program, in the next ten years Russia plans to spend a total of some $1.2 billion on the development of the Kuril Islands.
Earlier on Monday, Russia's Federal Agency for Special Construction said that the construction of military garrisons kicked off on the islands of Iturup and Kunashir.
As Russia and Japan failed to sign a permanent peace treaty following the end of the World War II, Tokyo still challenges Russia's sovereignty over the Kuril Islands. In 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to pay an official visit to Tokyo. However, the visit was suspended amid Japan's joining to certain Western sanctions against Moscow.
© Sputnik
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