Russia announces establishment of new Arctic military command

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) chairs a meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in Sochi, November 24, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin announced Monday that Russia has created a new strategic military command to cover all operations in the Arctic and the new establishment will start business on Dec 1, according to the Kremlin press service.

Putin made the announcement at a meeting with top military officials of Russia.

"Starting Dec. 1, a new strategic command will start operations in the Arctic zone at the Northern Fleet's military base," said Putin.

The military command will exercise leadership over all armed forces of Russia in the Arctic so as to improve structure of the military there, said the Kremlin press service.

Putin vowed in October 2013 never to "surrender" Russia's Arctic area and later ordered the Defense Ministry to take every step necessary to protect the country's security and national interests in the region.

Natural Resources Minister Sergei Donskoi said in October that Russia plans to submit another request to the United Nations, seeking to expand its Arctic borders by 1.2 million square kilometers.