Russia to build more camps in Crimea

MOSCOW -- Russia's Black Sea Fleet will build more military camps in Crimea while receiving new ships in 2015, head of the fleet said Monday.

"The main efforts will be focused on the organization of combat training of newly formed units, reconstruction of firing ranges, building garrisons infrastructure in Crimea and along the coast of Caucasus," Interfax news agency quoted Alexander Vitko as saying.

The fleet will prepare for receiving new ships, submarines and auxiliary vessels, he said, adding it will also conduct missions in the Mediterranean Sea and participate in several international naval exercises in 2015.

Russia has been mulling beefing up its military capability of the Black Sea Fleet, which is based in Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula.

In October, Russian Navy chief Viktor Chirkov said the fleet will commission an Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate and two Varshavyanka-class diesel electric submarines by the end of 2014, and will receive six frigates and six submarines by 2018.

Crimea joined Russia in March after a local referendum, which was not recognized by Ukraine and major Western countries.