Why is the Russian Arctic being reinforced with tanks and infantry
A new combined arms army will be formed as part of the Northern Fleet. This decision was made in the Russian Defense Ministry, sources in the military department told Izvestia. It will cover the Russian border in the north, including with Finland and Norway. The protection of the Kola Peninsula is a vital task for Russia, including because strategic missile submarines are based there. The creation of a new army is especially relevant against the background of Finland and Sweden joining NATO, experts say.
Now you're with the army
The Russian Ministry of Defense has decided to form a new combined arms army as part of the Northern Fleet, sources in the military department told Izvestia. The union is deployed on the basis of the army corps. The army will include motorized rifle brigades, regiments and divisions. Their personnel will be trained to conduct combat operations in the Arctic.
Before the military reforms of the beginning of the last decade, the north-western direction was part of the area of responsibility of the Leningrad Military District (LenVO). There were no armies or even divisions in its composition — only separate brigades. During the reform, LenVO was merged with the Moscow Military District (MVO), as a result, the Western Military District was formed. However, the units and formations located in the Arctic are structurally part of the Northern Fleet.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Pavel Lviv
Image source: iz.ru
— While Sweden and Finland were conditionally neutral countries, there was no need to keep any large forces in the region, - military historian Dmitry Boltenkov explained to Izvestia. — However, now that Finland has joined NATO, and Sweden is on this path, it is necessary to strengthen the north-western direction.
The expert noted that the 200th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 80th Arctic Brigade, as well as the 61st separate Marine Brigade are now stationed there. He did not rule out that the 200th and 80th brigades would be reorganized into a division, and the 14th Army Corps, which they are now part of, into the army. The most important thing is that with the creation of an army in this direction, powerful separate formations will also appear in it — a missile brigade, an air defense brigade and others. This will significantly increase the capabilities of the grouping in the region.
According to Dmitry Boltenkov, the protection of the Kola Peninsula is vital for us, if only because strategic missile submarines are based there.
— It is especially important to strengthen these borders militarily now, when the situation in Europe is unstable. It is unlikely that the Turks will be able to block Sweden's entry into the alliance for a long time, sooner or later they will be pressured and they will withdraw the veto," Inna Vetrenko, head of the Department of Management and Social Technologies at the Northwestern Institute of RANEPA, told Izvestia.
Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman
Image source: iz.ru
In early June, the head of the Main Organizational and Mobilization Directorate (GOMA) of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Yevgeny Burdinsky, said that the Moscow and Leningrad military districts would be created this year. He also announced plans to create two armies — combined arms and air. Burdinsky did not specify the direction where they will be formed.
Vital direction
In recent years, NATO countries have shown increased interest in the Arctic region. Large-scale exercises of the Cold Response alliance are held in Norway every two years. In the spring of 2022, more than 30 thousand military personnel, more than 200 aircraft and 50 ships took part in them.
Last year, the Joe Biden administration presented an updated version of the National Strategy for the Arctic Region until 2032. In particular, it talks about the need to strengthen the US military presence in the Arctic, intensify exercises with partner countries to "deter aggression in the Arctic, primarily from Russia," and modernize NORAD's air defense.
Photo: Getty Images/Robert Nickelsberg/Contributor
Image source: iz.ru
The Russian Armed Forces regularly conduct exercises in the polar latitudes. In particular, the annual Umka maneuvers, during which both personnel training and polar research are carried out.
Last year, following the results of the exercises, the Ministry of Defense reported that submarines with cruise missiles "Omsk" and "Novosibirsk" of the Pacific Fleet (TOF), while on the surface, launched anti-ship cruise missiles "Granite" and "Onyx" from the waters of the Chukchi Sea. In addition, as part of the maneuvers, the Magadan submarine made the transition to the Pacific Ocean along the Northern Sea Route.
On July 1, the press service of the Northern Fleet reported that the Arctic group, which includes warships of the Kola Flotilla of diverse forces, will make a traditional Arctic campaign and work out a set of tactical exercises on the continental coast, islands and in the waters of the Arctic Ocean seas.
In the spring of this year, up to 15 ships, submarines and support vessels led by the destroyer Admiral Ushakov took part in complex exercises.
Destroyer Admiral Ushakov
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Pavel Lviv
New arrivals
In recent years, the Northern Fleet has been receiving the latest ships created by Russian industry. In particular, in 2022, a silent submarine of project 677 "Kronstadt" joined its composition. These submarines have a displacement of 1.8 thousand tons, a speed of up to 21 knots and a diving depth of more than 300 m.
In addition, the SF includes the latest strategic submarine missile carriers of the Borey-A project. There is also a modern multipurpose boat of the project 885 "Ash" and 885M "Ash-M" and frigates of the project 22350 "Admiral Gorshkov". These ships carry Kalibr cruise missiles on board, and they will soon be armed with hypersonic Zircons.
Russia began to create a military grouping in the Arctic latitudes in the middle of the last decade. The joint strategic command "Northern Fleet" was created, which is now equal in status to the military district. It received territories and military units allocated from the Western Military District under its control.
Bastion coastal missile systems
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Golenkov
Then the Arctic grouping was reinforced by the troops of the Central and Eastern military districts located in the Arctic. The 14th Army Corps, consisting of the 80th and 200th separate motorized rifle brigades, entered the coastal units of the fleet. The fighters of the formations are able to fight on skis, use reindeer and dog sleds, and even build igloo — dwellings of Eskimos out of snow.
Coastal missile systems "Bal" and "Bastion", air defense systems are located on the Arctic islands. The polar airfields have been reconstructed, fighters are serving on them. In addition, the transfer of forces to the Arctic from other regions, both land and sea, is regularly practiced.
In 2021, a detachment of ships of the Northern Fleet trained amphibious landings along the Northern Sea Route during maneuvers. In different areas, the polar shores were stormed by units of marines and Arctic motorized infantry.
Roman Kretsul
Alexey Ramm