Ukrainian intelligence: Moscow increasing military presence in Armenia amid escalation with Baku

The Kremlin has accelerated the staffing of its military base in Armenian Gyumri with the aim of increasing military-political pressure on the countries of the South Caucasus, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine wrote on Telegram, Report informs.

"Personnel are being recruited from among the servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces who are serving in the Rostov and Volgograd regions, as well as in the temporarily occupied Crimea. In addition, Russia is actively looking for volunteers among representatives of the enslaved peoples of the Caucasus - in particular, in North Ossetia and Adygea," the GUR note says.

According to the representative of the security agency Andriy Yusov, the deployment of Russian troops in Armenia is an element of the Kremlin's comprehensive strategy aimed at destabilizing the global security situation.

"Along with inciting inter-ethnic conflict, Moscow is increasing its military presence in the Caucasus. Probably, the deterioration of relations between Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation was prepared in advance," he said.