The Central Military District (CMD) has begun this year's effort to clear environmental damage in the Arctic, CMD Commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Zarudnitsky said.

"This year's first environmental platoon started operations in Krasnoyarsk Territory, south of Taimyr Peninsula, earlier this month," he said.

The 20-person unit includes enlistees and has all-terrain vehicles at its disposal. "The platoon is equipped with engineering and special equipment and the necessary materiels," he said.

"Next year the CMD will form yet another platoon of the Defense Ministry to clean Arctic lands," he concluded.