Russia Deploys S-400s To Arctic

Russia has deployed its S-400 air defense systems on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic, Russian Northern Fleet said in a statement Monday.

"The air defense regiment of the Russian Northern Fleet deployed on Yuzhny island of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago has been completely re-equipped with new S-400 systems," the statement read.

 Personnel have been re-trained to be able to use the newest systems; it had previously used S-300 systems.

"The newest air defense systems increase the aerial zone in the region that falls under the control of our military," the statement notes.

Arctic Council forum has been established to avoid conflict in the Arctic by Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US. It convenes every six months at the level of senior Arctic officials and also holds biennial ministerial meetings.