The Russian military will grow its presence in the Arctic by the end of 2015: a ship-borne fighter regiment and an air defense regiment will join the existing troops, RIA Novosti reported Russian Army General and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying.

"Currently, a buildup of aviation and air defense forces is underway in the region. By the end of the year, the formation of a ship-borne fighter regiment and an air defense regiment will be finished," the minister said.

According to Shoigu, the military buildup in the Arctic is due to the Northern Sea Route development and the need to protect national interests in the region.