Next year, the Northern fleet, which is now the operational and strategic command, will meet in a new status. Since January 1, it is actually equated to a military district. This is directly stated in the Decree of the President of Russia N 803: "Consider the Northern fleet as an interspecific strategic territorial Association of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, performing the tasks of the military district."
The conversion goal is named there. It is related to the implementation of measures to protect the integrity and inviolability of the territory of the Russian Federation. Reliable defense of its Northern borders, ensuring the security of our Arctic zone is an extremely important task. And its implementation falls entirely on the Northern fleet.
Recall that in June, according to another decree of the President of Russia, it was declared a separate military-administrative unit. The same as the Western, southern, Central and Eastern military districts of Russia. Moreover, the North sea " cut " additional areas of responsibility. So, from next year, the Republic of Komi, the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions, as well as the Nenets Autonomous district will be excluded from the territories of the Western military district and will pass under the "wing" of the Northern fleet.
What this can mean in practice, explained the former commander of the SF Admiral Vyacheslav Popov. "From January 1, 2021, the Northern fleet will de jure perform the tasks of the military district, which exist de facto. This, in particular, involves addressing issues of mobilization, conscription, interaction with the authorities, the creation and development of infrastructure of the Northern sea route," he told RIA Novosti.
The Admiral believes that this decision is the next stage in giving the Northern fleet greater importance and autonomy in decision-making.
Yuri Gavrilov