Russian Army Order of Battle - 2016 Developments

Three new army divisions will be formed in 2016 to reinforce the Russian military in the western part of the country, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said 12 January 2016. The new units will be formed amid NATO’s continuing build-up across Eastern and Central Europe. "I cannot but mention such a critical task which is the formation of three divisions in the western theater. The task is extremely important," TASS reported Shoigu as telling journalists.

Shoigu also added that alongside the creation of the new divisions, the army will have to set up proper infrastructure including barracks, firing ranges and military hardware depots. While details of the new formations are unknown, the minister’s announcement came amid a US and NATO military build-up in Central and Eastern Europe – against what Washington and its allies call “Russian aggression.”

A senior source in the General Staff told TASS the 20th general purpose army in the district had to be created from scratch, as most of its original forces had been handed over to the 1st tank army. The 20th army is to be stationed in five regions in the west of Russia. Its headquarters are Voronezh.

The Ministry of Defence announced the re-establishment of the Western military district (ZVO) "celebrated the First Guards Tank Army." Also in 2016, as reported by "NG" a source in the department, will be formed the new armored divisions - the Voronezh and near Chelyabinsk. At the same time held the optimization of military units and infrastructure at military bases stationed abroad.

This is due not only to the economy of the funds allocated for defense, but also a change in the geopolitical situation in the post-Soviet space. Previously, the creation of tank units in the compounds of the Airborne Troops Commander of the Airborne Forces, said Col. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov.

This issue as part of rapid response forces (FBG) was discussed at the board meeting of the military department under the leadership of the Minister of Defence, Army General Sergei Shoigu. On the formation of the Chelyabinsk region Armored Division the commander of the Central Military District (CVO) Colonel-General Vladimir Zarudnitsky commented. He drew attention to the fact that the basis of weapons of this unit will be modern tanks. That is, apparently, developed at Uralvagonzavod war machines on the platform "Armata" will be directly driven around in this division (Chelyabinsk Tank Division will be placed close to the company).

As for the tank connection in the Voronezh region, in 2015 there had already been deployed (in Boguchar) the First Tank Brigade. Now, on this basis, it seems, it was already formed into a division. Veterans' movement advocated for that division was awarded the honorary title of the 10th Guards Ural volunteer tank division, which in 1995 brought from Germany is in Boguchar. In 2009, the division was disbanded. And based on it created the 262 th base of the storage of weapons and military equipment.

What caused the need for the creation of such a mass army tank units and formations, the Defense Ministry has not yet spoken. However, reports of their dislocation leads to the conclusion that, firstly, greater insecurity in the south-western borders of Russia requires further increase the combat power of the troops stationed in the region. Secondly, to reflect the increase in threats of possible military troops heavy armor is necessary not only in the West but also in the Central Asian direction. As is known, the area of responsibility CVO applies directly to Central Asia and Siberia. Thus in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are functioning Russian military bases, which, together with the allied forces for collective defense cover the southern flank of the CIS and the most turbulent of its components - the border with Afghanistan, where the possible expansion of terrorist groups in the post-Soviet space.

As the "NG" military expert, Lieutenant-General Yuri Netkachev in Russia at the moment formed rapid reaction forces. They must be ready to act anywhere in the country and the near abroad, where Russia has geopolitical and other interests. "But be that as FBG or grown on a given theater of operations possible in the case of a long-term military conflict will need more powerful forces - namely, tank units and formations. Some of them can be flown through the air, and the main unit, of course, will be relocated by rail, - the Netkachev. - And train troops, too, apparently, will be part of the FBG."

It is noteworthy that at the time when the Russian Federation are actively forming new military units and formations, some facilities Defense Ministry posted abroad, in particular in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, will be reduced. The State Duma ratified the package of agreements to waive rent the military department of the military ranges Zhaman Tau, Saryshagan Taisoigan and a total area of 1.6 million hectares. State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said that it will save the budget of about $ 4 million annually.

Apparently, in order to save the state,the 201st Russian military base (RMB), stationed in Tajikistan will again be reduced to brigade-size in 2016. This was recently said the commander of the CVO. Note that in December 2015, Russia had already withdrawn from Kulyab (Khatlon region) in the republic's capital Dushanbe, the 149th Motorized Rifle Regiment (SMEs). This year, he and the other regiments of the 201st base, will be reduced to a battalion (ie three times). Planned and "optimization of the Russian military base in Kant in Kyrgyzstan.

General Netkachev said it related not only to the economy of the budget, but also to the fact that "with the help of Russia significantly increased the combat capabilities of the armies of the countries, Russia's allies in the CSTO." For example, in a place derived from Kulyab Russian SMEs "where the garrison was deployed in the same regiment Tajik army." The expert was confident that in the case of aggravation of the situation in the Central Asian region to quickly be deployed FBG not only Russia, but also units of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF) of the CSTO states, as has happened during large-scale exercises RRF on the Tajik-Afghan border May 2015.

In January 2016, the head of the Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu said that the western direction planned to create three new divisions. Later, a source in the headquarters of the Southern Military District, told Tass that the end of the year a Motorized Rifle Division numbering about 10,000 people will be in the Rostov region. The creation of the 1st Tank Army in the Western Military District was officially announced at the beginning of 2016. The commander was appointed Major-General Alexander Chayko. The Army was armed with tanks T-72B3 and T-80 and BMP-3. A source in the General Staff Tass reported earlier that the new association will be the first in Russia to receive the new generation of armored vehicles - tanks on the "Armata" platform and combat vehicles "Kurganets".

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in televised remarks in July 2016 that the military had created four new divisions, nine brigades and 22 regiments since 2013 and deployed them in the Southern Military District, adjacent to southern Ukraine, as well as in Russia's restive North Caucasus region. "In recent years, the military-political situation on the southwestern strategic direction has become more acute," Shoigu said in citing the rationale for Moscow's military buildup in the region. "Mainly, this is due to the growing military presence of NATO in eastern Europe, the situation in Ukraine and the activities of international terrorist groups, including in the North Caucasus." In an interview with the newspaper Vedomosti, Russian military expert Ruslan Pukhov noted that along with reactivating the 1st Guards Tank Army in Russia's Western Military District, near its border with northern Ukraine, Moscow planned to form two other armored groups for deployment near the Ukrainian border.

The number of battalion tactical group (BTG), fully manned with contract servicemen in the Russian Armed Forces will increase from 66 to 125 within the two years, chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov told reporters 14 September 2016. "Significantly increases the combat capability of departments and units on contract. In our districts, including the Southern Military District, established battalion tactical groups, which are fully manned by contract servicemen. Now these BTG 66, will be 96 by the end of 2016, the following year - 115, and in another year - 125 ", Gerasimov said. He recalled that each BTG consists of 700-800 people, and some - of 900. "It's reinforced battalion, which has all the necessary means to strengthen," - said Chief of General Staff. Each brigade and regiment, as a rule, includes two of the battalion group, said Gerasimov.