On 5 November Russia's Ministry of Regional Development announced its Draft Strategic Programme covering up to 2020, defining military risks and requirements in the country's Arctic region, according to local media reports. Risks outlined by the plan include the lack of operational experience in extreme climatic conditions, the lack of suitable weapon systems, vulnerabilities associated with uncontrolled borders and poor capabilities with which to immediately respond to external aggression. The quoted document sets out the "increase in potential conflict in the world's Arctic regions and the consequent need to improve the strength, funding, infrastructure, and logistics of the Russian Federation's armed forces in the region" along with the establishment of "a system of [prepositioned] equipment for the operational deployment of a group of forces".
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