Russian Defense Minister arrives in Crimea to carry out military inspection
Russian media has reported that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in the Crimea to inspect the combat readiness of Russian troops stationed on the Peninsula, as stated by a representative of the Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov. According to the spokesman, Shoigu will also inspect the construction of combat training facilities and social infrastructure in the annexed territory.
The Head of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, also visited the Crimea on Tuesday, where he stated that Ukraine was attempting to destabilize the situation on the Peninsula.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also travelled to the Crimea last week where he examined the construction of the Kerch Straight Bridge from Russia to the annexed Peninsula.
The internationally recognized Ukrainian territory of Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation in March of 2014 in the wake of the Ukrainian revolution. The Kremlin has faced international condemnation for its annexation of the Peninsula, leading many western countries to impose economic sanctions against Russia. In the United Nations, only Afghanistan, North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Syria recognize Crimea as a legitimate federal subject of Russia.