MOSCOW, December 27 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will start building two new radar stations in east Siberia's Krasnoyarsk Territory and in the south Siberian Altai Republic in 2013, Russia’s deputy defense minister said on Thursday.

“New stations will be constructed across Russia, including in Yeniseysk [Krasnoyarsk] and Barnaul [Altai],” Gen.-Col.Oleg Ostapenko told journalists.

Ostapenko said a feasibility study has been performed for the planned construction, which will start on schedule.

Earlier this month, Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the Russian army will no longer rent the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan. The lease, signed in 2002, was valid until December 24, 2012.

Russia is replacing the Gabala radar station, which has played a crucial role in its missile defense system, with a new system based at Armavir in Russia’s southern Krasnodar Territory.

Ostapenko said the Armavir radar station is in the final stage of testing. “For today, the station is ready to fulfill tasks,” he said adding that the station is due to be put on full combat alert soon.