Chuck Hagel: US army must be ready to deal with Russian troops

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warns about a threat coming from Russia.

Speaking during the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference, Hagel called on American soldiers to be ready to deal with the Russian army on NATO's doorstep, Hromadske TV reports.

“The demands on the Army will only grow more diverse and complicated going forward. Threats from terrorists and insurgents will remain with us for a long time, but we also must deal with a revisionist Russia -- with its modern and capable Army -- on NATO's doorstep,” he said.

According to him, both state and “non-state actors” have access to disruptive technologies and destructive weapons, TASS reports.

“The specter of so-called “hybrid warfare” looms large – where our adversaries marry the tactics of insurgents with the tools of advanced armed forces and their sophisticated technologies,” Hagel said.

He said the US had some 80,000 soldiers in the Pacific Command area of responsibility; 40,000 soldiers under Central Command; 28,000 soldiers in Europe; and thousands more in both Africa and South America.