THE Russia announced today that a division of Bastion coastal defense missile defense systems has been deployed to Paramusir, one of the Kuril Islands in the North Pacific, some of which the Japan considers its own territory.

The move is part of a broader strengthening of Russia’s defense systems in its vast territories in the Far East, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said, responding in part to what he described as US efforts to “contain” Russia and China. .

Shoigu was speaking to senior military officers a day after President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping laid the groundwork for their “boundless” cooperation during Kremlin talks with agreements signed on deeper energy and military cooperation.

“To contain Russia and China, the United States is significantly increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening political and military ties with its allies, continuing to create a new American security architecture in the region,” Shoigu said in a video of his message released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

Shoigu said the Bastion system would strengthen Russian security around the Kuril Islands archipelago.

Japan, a close ally of the US, claims four islands in the southern Kuril archipelago that were seized by Soviet forces at the end of World War II. Japan does not claim Paramushir, one of the Kuril Islands in the northern part of the archipelago.

The issue stood in the way of Moscow and Tokyo signing a peace treaty that would formally end hostilities.

Modernization

Russian armed forces in the east of the country have received about 400 pieces of modern military equipment over the past year, including SU-57 jets and anti-aircraft missile systems, Shoigu said.

“The military capabilities of the eastern military district have increased significantly,” he said.

Shoigu also said modernization of Moscow’s air defense system would be completed this year as Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory increase.

“This year, we will complete the modernization of Moscow’s missile defense system,” Shoigu said, adding that two new air defense units will be trained and equipped with new-generation S-350 air-to-ground missile systems. “At the same time, we will complete the construction of 621 military infrastructures for the needs of the air force,” the Russian minister added.

Russian officials have blamed Kiev for a series of drone strikes deep inside Russian territory since the start of the military campaign in Ukraine. The Russian capital has never been directly hit by attacks since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. In January, images posted on social media showed the installation in Moscow of Pantsir S-1 systems, designed to intercept cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Shoigu said that Russian aerospace forces have so far destroyed more than 20,000 Ukrainian military installations since the start of the “special military operation,” as Moscow calls it.