The Leningrad and Moscow Military Districts were created because of threats related to NATO expansion and the alliance’s new military infrastructure near Russia’s borders, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated at a meeting with the army’s senior staff, according to Russian media.
Against the backdrop of NATO’s military build-up near Russia’s borders, the expansion of the alliance through the accession of Finland and, potentially, Sweden, we have taken steps to reinforce troop groupings in the north-western and western strategic directions
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on 2 March that Russia would deploy additional weapons in response to the threats posed by NATO expansion in Finland and Sweden. Lavrov added that additional weapons would be deployed in the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts in response to NATO enlargement.
On 26 February, Hungary’s parliament ratified Sweden’s NATO accession agreement, with 188 MPs voting in favour and six opposing.
Military sentiment around the war in Ukraine is rising. The Social Democrats’ coalition partners in Germany are pushing for a voluntary model after Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has called for compulsory military service.
