Russia plans to deploy its most advance missile systems in Crimea next month, according to a news report.
The military in August plans to send to the city of Feodosia "a full regiment" of its most advanced air defense system, the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system, according to an article in RT, citing comments from Lt. Col. Evgeny Oleinikov, deputy commander of the 18th missile air defense regiment of the 31 air defense division.
The system is designed to target stealth aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles with a range of about 250 miles (400 kilometers).
While the S-400 is the longest-range SAM in the world, it won't be the only Russian air defense system in Crimea, which Russia annexed from the Ukraine in 2014.
The military has already deployed the S-300 to the region. And pro-Russian separatists reportedly used the older Buk surface-to-air missile system (SA-11) to shoot down the commercial airliner Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, killing all 298 people on board.
It wasn't immediately clear how many S-400 launch vehicles will be deployed. A battalion reportedly includes six launch vehicles.
Russia has announced plans to sell its air defense systems to such countries as China and Iran.
