Official: Ukraine to send troops to border

KIEV, Ukraine, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Ukraine's planned redeployment of troops closer to its borders does not threaten Russia's security, Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said Wednesday.

RIA Novosti reported that last week Delo, a Russian-language business newspaper published in Ukraine, said the former Soviet republic was planning to deploy more troops on its border with Russia in the wake of the recent military flare-up between Russia and Georgia.

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

Yekhanurov added that the redeployment of Ukrainian troops pales in comparison to current troop movements in Russia.

For its part, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has denied it was planning military build-up on the border with Russia. Officials said Ukraine planned to strengthen troop numbers along all its international borders.