General-Colonel Alexander Zelin, Commander-in-Chief of Russia's Air Forces, has reported deployment of S-300 air defence systems in the territory of Abkhazia; the latter refutes the information.

According to the General, Russian S-300 systems and army air defence means deployed in Abkhazia and South Ossetia accordingly will shoot down any flying objects encroaching upon the air space of these republics.

He referred to the need of covering Russian military bases as one of the aims of strengthening the air defence means, the ITAR-TASS reports.

In his turn, Maxim Gvindzhiya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, has stated that no S-300 systems were deployed in Abkhazia and the General's words were misinterpreted, the BBC reports.