Large-scale military infrastructure construction is underway on many Arctic islands, Interfax reports, citing Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu.

"Construction has been proceeding on Kotelny, Wrangel and Alexandra Land islands, on the Severnaya Zemlya and Novaya Zemlya archipelagos and on Cape Schmidt," Sergei Shoigu told a meeting at the Defense Ministry.

In 2014, the Federal Agency for Special Construction (Spetsstroy) started building military facilities and housing for military personnel in the harsh conditions of the Extreme North. The same year, residential buildings for contract servicemen and facilities housing radar and aircraft guidance equipment were completed on Wrangel and Alexandra Land islands and on Cape Schmidt.

"I'd like to say that these infrastructure projects are being implemented in stages to provide for living and working conditions for military personnel in the Arctic zone," the Defense Minister said.