US strategic missile defense systems are aimed at Russia despite Washington's assurances to the contrary, said Russia's chief of armed forces on Tuesday.

"The development and deployment of missile defenses is aimed against the Russian Federation," General Nikolai Makarov said, quoted by Russian news agencies.

"Despite statements from western governments that it is only to 'ensure our security', this is not the case," he said.

In September, US President Barack Obama shelved plans -- fiercely opposed by Moscow -- to site elements of a US missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, a plan pursued by his predecessor, George W. Bush.

Moscow initially welcomed Obama's decision amid talk of a wide-ranging reset in strained US-Russian relations.

But it reserved judgement on Obama's simultaneous announcement of plans to pursue deployment of less ambitious but more effective missile defenses.

Makarov said new missile defense systems in Europe would automatically undermine Russia's strategic deterrent, regardless of what rhetoric was used to describe their purpose.

-AFP/NOW Lebanon