Shoigu explains Russian troops' deployment to Kuril Island

The deployment of a Russian division on the Kuril Islands is meant only to protect Russia, the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a press conference in Tokyo.

"This division was under formation for the past six years and it is being formed in three different parts of Russia. The reason for forming this division is purely to protect Russian territory," Sputnik cited Shoigu as saying.