Russia has no intention of expanding its Arctic force, Deputy Security Council Secretary Yevgeny Lukyanov said on the sidelines of the 20^th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, RIA Novosti reports.

"The world is raising quite a fuss about Russia's efforts to militarize the Arctic. However, our esteemed colleagues are forgetting that the Soviet-era infrastructure has disintegrated completely. We are not expanding anything; we are merely restoring the necessary infrastructure," Lukyanov explained.

Russia needs the infrastructure partly to protect its border, conduct high-seas rescue operations, prevent environmental disasters, escort ships, and for other civilian purposes, he said.