Russia is deploying nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in its exclave of Kaliningrad. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed deployment of the missile and dismissed western concerns.

The ministry said that ''contingents of missile troops have been moved many times and will continue to be moved to the region as part of a Russian armed forces training plan.'' Russia says one of the missiles was deliberately exposed to US spy satellites, but the US failed to discover them.

The Iskander is a tactical ballistic missile system and has a range of up to 700 kilometers.