Russia to decide on its own what military presence to have in Crimea (Alexey Meshkov)

Russia is in the position to make a decision on its own what military presence to have in Crimea, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Meshkov said on Monday commenting on a statement by EU foreign ministers who expressed concern over a military build-up in Crimea.

"Crimea is Russian land and Russia is free to make decisions on its own what military presence to have there," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin  in an interview with the authors of a documentary about Crimea said Coastal antimissile systems Bastion were deployed to protect Crimea, and it was done in such a way that they were seen pwell from outer space.

Tthe head of the Foreign Ministry's non-proliferation department last week said Russia can deploy nuclear weapons in Crimea as the peninsula is part of its territory. "We regard Crimea as part of the Russian Federation. Of Course, Russia has a right to deploy nuclear weapons in its territory if necessaey," Ulyanov said.

The Russian Strategic Missile Forces commander Colonel-Geenral Sergey Karakayev said in December that Russia has no intention of deploying Strategic Missile Force units in Crimea.
"This is not necessary," he said. "The range of modern ballistic missiles allows to hit targets in any part of the globe without approaching Russia's borders."

"All missile complexes are deployed deep within Russia where they are protected from the enemy's destruction weapons," Karakayev said.
   http://tass.ru/en/russia/782973
16/3/15
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Related: 

• The European Union said on Monday it would stick to its policy of not recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea and voiced concern over what it said was a military build-up and deteriorating human rights situation there....

• Putin explained why he decided to return to the Crimea to Russia

• Deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Crimea possible (Foreign Ministry)

  Russia mulled raising nuclear readiness over Crimea, says Putin...

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• Upper house to discuss recognizing Crimea transfer to Ukraine in 1954 illegal (Valentina Matviyenko)