This makes sense:
Armored and attack helicopter units of the Russian Armed Forces have begun deploying towards the Afghan-Tajikistan border over the last several days in a move that will see the Moscow expand its military presence in Central Asia.
According to official Russian sources, the Russian military has begun sending heavy equipment to Tajikistan in order to bolster the hard-pressed anti-terrorism efforts of the country’s border security forces.
The justification for the mechanized forces is to fight terrorism. Which makes little sense.
But if the purpose is to provide heft to resist Chinese penetration of former Soviet space via the One Belt, One Road (OBOR, a.k.a. the New Silk Road) project to extend trade routes from China to Europe and points in between, the type of Russian force deployed makes more sense.
The Chinese flag will follow Chinese trade. And Russia wants their flag firmly planted first.
But no, really Russia, keep talking like NATO is an actual threat to invade Russia while the real threat from the east rises.
