China News Agency, Moscow, December 9 (Reporter Tian Bing) Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, said on the 9th that the United States and NATO have recently increased their military activities near the Russian border.

He warned that the Russian army will closely follow and monitor and take corresponding measures to ensure that the territory is not violated.

　　Gerasimov said at a briefing with military attaches stationed in Russia that the tension in eastern Ukraine is escalating.

The supply of helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircrafts by the relevant countries to the Uzbek side is pushing the Uzbek side to take "fierce and dangerous" actions, but the military actions carried out by the Uzbek side in the region will be countered.

　　He also pointed out that the information about Russia’s imminent invasion of Ukraine is a complete lie, “NATO countries pay too much attention to the movement of Russian troops on Russian territory. Redeploying troops during combat training is a normal practice of any country’s armed forces. Russia is on its own territory. There is no need to inform others about military activities."

　　Gerasimov said that NATO's military activities near the Russian border have increased significantly in recent years. NATO holds about 40 major military exercises near the Russian border each year.

During the exercise, a large number of troops will be redeployed near the Russian border, but some of its military equipment will remain there after the exercise.

　　At the same time, the US military's strategic aviation force began to appear more frequently near the eastern border of Russia, and simulated training to launch cruise missiles against targets in Russia.

He warned, “In any case, air defense means detecting such targets in time and taking measures to prevent incidents from happening.”

　　Gerasimov also pointed out that the establishment of the "U.S.-UK-Australia Trilateral Security Partnership (AUKUS)" group is a destabilizing factor in the Asia-Pacific region. The aid of the U.S. and Britain to build nuclear submarines in Australia will lead to the risk of nuclear technology proliferation.

The establishment of the Australian nuclear submarine fleet may lead to escalation of the struggle in the Asia-Pacific region and even in other parts of the world.

　　Gerasimov said that maintaining Russia's Trinity nuclear strike force is one of the main tasks to improve the combat capabilities of the Russian armed forces. 95% of the launchers of the Russian military's land-based strategic nuclear forces are on combat duty.

According to him, the Russian strategic missile force is continuing to equip the "Yars" intercontinental missile and the "Pioneer" hypersonic missile as planned, and will receive a nuclear submarine capable of launching the "Blava" intercontinental missile in the near future.

　　In addition, Gerasimov said that the testing of the "Zircon" hypersonic cruise missile is being successfully completed, and the ability to launch hypersonic missiles from surface ships and underwater nuclear submarines has been confirmed.

By equipping modern submarines and surface ships, the Russian Navy’s offshore and open sea combat capabilities have been further enhanced.

(over)