MOSCOW, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia has deployed the first Iskander tactical missile system in the northwestern military district of Leningrad, the ground forces commander said Saturday.
"A first and quite efficient Iskander missile system has been put into service in the Leningrad Military District," Col. Gen. Alexander Postnikov told Moscow Echo radio station.
Postnikov said the Iskander missiles will first be deployed at Russia's northwestern borders.
The commander has previously said the deployment of Iskanders had nothing to do with the U.S. placement of Patriot missiles in Poland, but rather was in accordance with plans for rebuilding Russia's armed forces.
A battery of U.S. Patriot missiles arrived in northwestern Poland in May along with more than 100 American soldiers. After 2012, the batteries will be supplemented with standard SM-3 combat missiles.
