A compound armed with Iskander-M complexes has been deployed in Karelia
The newly formed Leningrad Military District is being reinforced with new formations. A separate missile brigade armed with Iskander-M missile systems has been created in Karelia, sources at the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestia. In addition, the 11th Army Corps in the Kaliningrad region, as well as the 14th Army Corps in the Murmansk region, were transferred to the district. Experts call the strengthening of the northwestern borders a timely and adequate response to Finland's accession to NATO.
New connections
The Ministry of Defense has formed a separate missile brigade in Karelia, which is armed with Iskander-M tactical complexes, sources told Izvestia in the military department. The new unit became part of the newly created Leningrad Military District (LenVO) along with two army corps: the 11th, whose units are located in the Kaliningrad region, and the 14th, stationed in the Murmansk region.
— The formation of a missile brigade is a very timely decision. This is an adequate response to Finland's accession to NATO," Admiral Vladimir Valuev, ex—commander of the Baltic Fleet, told Izvestia. — If worse times come, the missile brigade will confidently say its word and solve those tasks that are applicable to the NATO forces that pose a threat. Now they are generally strengthening this flank, and they are doing the right thing.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Maishev
Image source: iz.ru
Iskanders performed very well during a special military operation, so the Finns should know that such a "joy" can come to them in case of anything, military expert Dmitry Boltenkov told Izvestia.
— 80 years ago, the war ended with them, they lived peacefully and amicably, — he noted. — We did not occupy them, we did not torment them much. They have built so many useful and valuable things for us. And then the Finns took and broke off all good, normal neighborly relations overnight. Not fraternal, not related, but the country was like a good neighbor to us. Why Finland did this is not clear, but it decided to join NATO. Accordingly, we have a healthy piece of the border with the alliance — more than a thousand kilometers. If earlier we had no troops there as such, only a brigade in the south and in the north, now we need to keep an eye on the Finns.
According to Dmitry Boltenkov, Finland itself has good armed forces, in addition, American and British soldiers may appear in the country. Because of this, it is necessary to strengthen the grouping of troops, in particular, to reorient the 14th Army Corps to the land enemy. Previously, he, in fact, united the coastal troops of the Northern Fleet, now he will look after the northern part of Russia, the expert explained.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the formation of the 11th Army Corps in 2016. The new association became part of the Baltic Fleet. Since 2020, the corps has been commanded by Lieutenant General Andrei Ruzinsky. It consists of motorized rifle, artillery, missile formations, logistics units and other formations.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Nevar
Image source: iz.ru
The Army Corps became the successor to the 11th Combined Arms Army, which in Soviet times was stationed in the Kaliningrad region.
In April 2017, the 14th Army Corps was formed as part of the Northern Fleet. It is located on the territory of the Murmansk region. It has been commanded by Major General Boris Fomichev since 2022.
For operations in the Arctic, the personnel of the Arctic motorized rifle brigades undergo special practice. The fighters receive ski training, prepare to use reindeer and dog sleds.
Strengthening the direction
The strengthening of the north-western borders began in 2022, when Finland and Sweden declared their desire to join NATO. At the same time, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Western Military District would be divided into two — Moscow and Leningrad. In July last year, the head of the military department announced that, in accordance with the presidential decree on increasing the staffing of the armed forces, the governing bodies of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts, the combined arms army and the army corps were being formed. The LenVO should fend off threats in the north-west, and the MVO in the central direction.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Nevar
Image source: iz.ru
On February 26, Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the re-establishment of two districts. LenVO is defined within the administrative borders of the Republic of Karelia, the Komi Republic, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod and Pskov regions, St. Petersburg, as well as the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
The MVO includes the territories of Belgorod, Bryansk, Vladimir, Voronezh, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Kostroma, Kursk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tambov, Tver, Tula, Yaroslavl regions and Moscow.
At the beginning of the year, Izvestia reported that new motorized rifle divisions would appear in the Leningrad Military District. According to Izvestia sources, the possibility of creating a tank division as part of the Leningrad Military District is also being considered, but no decision has been made about it yet. The new formations will cover the northwestern regions of Russia.
A new Air Force and air defense army has also been deployed in the western direction. It will consist of fighter and bomber regiments, as well as air defense units and radio engineering troops.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Korotaev
Image source: iz.ru
Also, the Western strategic direction is being strengthened by assault aviation units equipped with the famous "Rooks" — attack aircraft of the Su-25 family. Their task will be to directly support the ground forces on the battlefield. The attack aircraft will also interact with helicopters of the army aviation.
Vladimir Matveev
Julia Leonova
Roman Kretsul