Ukraine says troop redeployment no threat to Russia

KIEV, December 3 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said on Wednesday that the planned redeployment of troops closer to the country's borders did not threaten Russia.

Delo, a Russian-language business newspaper published in Ukraine, said last Wednesday that the former Soviet republic was planning to deploy more troops on its border with Russia in light of the recent military conflict between Russia and Georgia.

According to Delo, Ukraine could initially increase the number of air defense units near the Russian border by redeploying them from its western regions. The modernization of the existing S-300, Buk-M1, Osa and Tunguska air defense systems was also reported to be on the agenda.

"Moscow should not worry about this redeployment - it does not threaten Russia," the UNIAN news agency quoted Yekhanurov as saying.

He added that the scale of redeployment of troops in Ukraine was much smaller compared to current troop movements in Russia.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry earlier denied it was concentrating on a military build-up on the border with Russia, and said it was planning to strengthen troop numbers along all its borders.