Russian ORBAT

Feanor · May 23, 2009

This is a thread where I would like to try to gather together all I can of the modern Russian Army Order of Battle as it is (will be) after the current reforms are completed. So far info is incomplete and far between, so I'm looking specifically for unit numbers, strength, location, equipment, etc. In general such info tends to come in scraps, across various articles. I'll try to piece together all I can and post it all in a summary.

Moscow MD
218th Independent SpetzNaz btln based in Moscow.
16th SpetzNaz Brigade based in Tambov.
6th Independent Tank Brigade, formed from the former 100th Tank Regiment of 3rd Motor-Rifles Division, has 3 tank and 1 motor-rifles btlns.
9th Independent Motor-Rifles Brigade, formed on the basis of an Motor-Rifles Regiment of the 3rd Motor-Rifles Division, has 3 motor-rifles and 1 tank bltns. Deployed in Novgorod.
27th Sevastopolskaya Motor-Rifles Brigade based in Tyopliy Stan (Тёплый Стан).
4th Independent Tank Brigade in Naro-Fominsk.
5th Independent Motor-Rifles Brigade in Naro-Fominsk.
8th Independent Motor-Rifles Brigade in Naro-Fominsk.
76th VDV Division in Pskov. It looks like some VDV divisions will be retained, and this is one of them.
98th VDV Division in Ivanovo.
106th VDV Division in Tula. It has been decided to retain the division. There are also rumors that it will be reinforced by a fourth regiment. The division also has small numbers of brand new BMD-3s (one bltn) and a few BMD-4s.
202nd Air-defense Missile Brigade based in Naro-Fominsk.

Disbanded - 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor-Rifles and 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank. Two brigades are being formed from each one (4 total). Numbers of the new units are unknown.

Leningrad MD
2nd SpetzNaz Brigade based in Pskov.
138th Guards Motor-Rifles Brigade based in Kamenka. Equipped with BMP-2s and T-80s, as well as 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery, Tunguska, OSA, and Strela-10 tac-SAM, formed on the basis of the former 45th Motor-Rifles Division.
200th Independent Motor-Rifles Brigade based in Pechenga (Murmansk region).

North-Caucus MD
22nd Guards SpetzNaz Brigade based in Aksay.
10th SpetzNaz Brigade based in Goryachiy Klyuch (Горячий Ключ).
33rd Mountain Motor-Rifles Brigade.
34th Mountain Motor-Rifles Brigade.
131st Cossack Motor-Rifles Brigade based in Maykop. Some more recent reports (redstar.ru) claim that it's currently deployed in the 7th Military Base in Abkhazia.
205th Motor-Rifles Brigade based in Buddyonovsk.
693rd Motor-Rifles Brigade, based in Ossetia on the 4th Military Base. Equipment includes T-72 tanks(being replace soon), BMP-1 and 2, BTR-70 and 80, 2S3 Akatsiya, Tunguska SPAAGs, BM-21 Grad, 9K57 Uragan.
17th Independent Motor-Rifles Brigade deployed in Shali (Шали) in Chechnya. Possibly the former 42 Motor-Rifles Division.
18th Independent Motor-Rifles Brigade in Chechnya. Possibly of the former 42nd Motor-Rifles Division.
8th Independent Motor-Rifles Brigade deployed in Shali (Шали) in Chechnya. Possibly the former 42 Motor-Rifles Division.
136th Independent Motor-Rifles Brigade.
7th VDV Division in Novorossiysk.

Disbaded - 42nd Motor-Rifles Division. 3 Brigades have reportedly been formed on it's basis. However the numbers are unavailable. All above listed units were formed before the disbanding of the 42nd.

Volga-Ural MD
3rd Guards SpezNaz Brigade based in Samara, rumored to be disbanded soon.
21st Motor-Rifles Brigade based in Totskoe (Тоцкое).
23rd Motor-Rifles Brigade based in Samara.
28th Motor-Rifles Brigade based in Yekaterinburg (is still in the process of being formed).
29th Nuclear Biological and Chemical Defense Brigade based in Yekaterinburg.
385th Artillery Brigade in Perm.
7th Independent Tank Brigade based in Cherbakul.
15th Independent Motor-Rifles Brigade based in Roschinskiy (Рощинский). Equipped with BTRs.
56th Engineers Regiment based in Alkino-2 (посёлок Алкино-2). I'm not sure if this unit is intended to remain a regiment, or just hasn't undergone reforms yet. It does, however, still exist. I've found listings, also, for a 186th Engineers Brigade at the same location, but they all date older. It's possible that this is the former 186th.
473rd Training Center in Elansk (посёлок Еланск). It's unclear what kind of training center this is.

Disbanded -12th SpetzNaz Brigade in Asbest.

Siberian MD
24th SpezNaz Brigade based in Irkutsk. Recently moved from their base in Ulan-Ude to Irkutsk.
74th Guards Motor-Rifles Brigade, based in Yugra (Югра) armed with BMP-2, BM-21 Grad, T-72B and BM. Formed on the basis of the 94th Motor-Rifles Division. Consists of 3 motor-rifles, one tank, one engineers, and one artillery battalions.
242-nd Training Center based in Omsk. It's essentially the former 44th training division of the VDV, is currently a training center for the VDV.

Disbanded - 67th SpetzNaz Brigade based in Berdsk, personelle reportedly merged into the 24th Brigade. 94th Motor-Rifles Division has been disbanded.

Far Eastern MD
14th SpetzNaz Brigade based in Ussuriysk
83rd VDV Brigade.

South Ossetia
4th Military Base, reportedly also formed on the "brigade principle". Recently set to receive T-90 tanks.Based around the 693rd Motor-Rifles Brigade. Equipment includes T-72 tanks(being replace soon), BMP-1 and 2, BTR-70 and 80, 2S3 Akatsiya, Tunguska SPAAGs, BM-21 Grad, 9K57 Uragan. Also attached to the unit reportedly is a battery of Tochka SRBMs, a battalion of Buk-M1 SAMs, and a mixed unit of Mi-8 and Mi-24.

Abkhazia
7th Military Base, reportedly also formed on the "brigade principle". Equipped with T-90A, BTR-80 and BTR-80A. Photos also confirm Grad BM-21 and either BMP-1 or 2. 131st Motor-Rifles Brigade is deployed here, along with the 55th Independent Helicopter regiment flying a mix of Mi-24 and Mi-8. Also includes an un-named SAM regiment.

Armenia
102nd Military Base

Tadjikistan
201st Military Base formed from the former 201st Motor-Rifles Division.

Transnestria
Rumors of two Motor-Rifles Brigades under the command of Moscow MD.

Northern Fleet
61st Independent Marines Brigade, based in Sputnik. Equipment includes BTR-80, T-80, 2S1 Gvozdika, and MT-LB

Caspian Flotilla
77th Guards Marines Brigade based in Dagestan. Was originally meant to be disbanded into two btlns, one in the Caspian, and one in the Black Sea Fleet, however the decision has recently been halted. The self-propelled artillery bltn and tank bltn have already been disbanded, however. It's unclear whether they will be returned to the unit.

[url=http://www.vremya.ru/2009/49/4/225631.html
[url=http://www.nr2.ru/ekb/226699.html
[url=http://www.argumenti.ru/publications/9151
[url=http://www.soldat.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=15555&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=80
[url=http://news.mail.ru/politics/2574542/
[url=http://smi2.ru/Wellda/c120384
[url=http://php.vz.ru/news/2009/5/14/286628.html[url=http://primamedia.ru/news/12.09.2008-80667/p=3[url=http://www.arms-expo.ru/site.xp/049057054048124056049051052.html
http://www.redstar.ru/2009/01/21_01/4_03.html
http://www.degtyarskadm.ru/e/47681-est-rabota-dlya-nastoyaschih-muzhchin
http://osinform.ru/dijest/9307-v-juzhnojj-osetii-razvorachivaetsja-brigada.html
http://www.astrobl.ru/RSS/art.aspx?id=11170
http://www.vladimir.rostrud.ru/portal/r/cf/custfolders.aspx?showh=0&cfld=309
http://info-rm.com/2009/03/23/brigada-novogo-oblika-vooruzhena.html
http://vz.ru/society/2009/5/26/290765.html
http://www.mayor.vorkuta.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=250&Itemid=61\
http://www.ufacity.info/news/29716.html
http://www.una-unso.in.ua/?p=11301
http://www.ufacity.info/news/8468.html
http://www.zrpress.ru/zr/2009/5/48
http://www.nevskoevremya.spb.ru/obshestvo/3541/ya_b_v_kontraktniki_poshel/
http://www.memo.ru/hr/hotpoints/caucas1/msg/2008/04/m133855.htm
http://www.redstar.ru/2009/03/28_03/3_05.html
http://www.vz.ru/society/2009/5/28/291713.html
http://www.vz.ru/society/2009/5/26/290765.html
http://www.vpk-news.ru/article.asp?pr_sign=archive.2009.268.articles.army_02

Feanor · May 24, 2009

Guys, I was hoping that anyone else who had info could help me out here...

Aleks3205 · May 25, 2009

no title

And what abt. border guard forces? They are olso armed and ready for action, and as far as i know they olso eqipped with APS and may be supported by their own helicopters/

Feanor · May 25, 2009

Hey, I notice this is your first post. Welcome to defencetalk.

Aleks3205 said:
And what abt. border guard forces? They are olso armed and ready for action, and as far as i know they olso eqipped with APS and may be supported by their own helicopters/

They are FSB troops. We also have the MVD troops, which are also armed, and include artillery, tanks and helicopters, and played a major part in the Second Chechen war. We also have the MChS, which has serious heavy-lift capabilities and would help a lot in terms of rapid deployments, which I'm also not counting.

I'm (for now) trying to get open source confirmation on as many units as I can. I know a couple of Russian forums have lists that are complete, or almost complete, and far better then mine. A certain "ccc", who claims to be a Colonel in the Russian Army provided force orgs of the brigades (i.e. their internal structure), and lists of the units, which are deemed to be (at this point) reliable. What I'm trying to do is put together an open-source list of units that doesn't rely on info from unofficial sources. The list is far from complete, and I would appreciate any help anyone can provide in terms of unit numbers, and any other info about them.

Arc Light · May 28, 2009

Feanor said:
This is a thread where I would like to try to gather together all I can of the modern Russian Army Order of Battle as it is (will be) after the current reforms are completed. So far info is incomplete and far between, so I'm looking specifically for unit numbers, strength, location, equipment, etc. In general such info tends to come in scraps, across various articles. I'll try to piece together all I can and post it all in a summary.

It is almost impossible to say...too many factors are uncertain. First it is not certain all this military reform will take place at all due to severe economic crisis in Russia. Second Russian generals are unhappy due to massive officer cadre cutbacks and they seem to plan to even derail this reform. Third in fact entire Russian Army is now outdated and I think it requires too many resources Russian state can sustain especially new weapon systems in almost every arms category.

Feanor · May 28, 2009

Except it's not impossible to say. As you can see I've managed to gather a fairly solid list. True I'm missing most of the artillery, NBC defense, and IADS, troops, but I managed to get a lot if not most of the ground forces, and all of the SpetNaz and VDV units. I'm still working on it, and hopefully I'll have a more or less complete list eventually.

The reforms will continue for the simple reason that too many of them are already in full swing, and most are very difficult to reverse. Not to mention that the new structure has already been battletested in both the Chechen and Georgian wars. Russian generals are indeed very unhappy, at least a large chunk of them, and are also getting replaced in large numbers. Most recently head of the VDV was replaced.

Arc Light · May 29, 2009

Feanor said:
Except it's not impossible to say. As you can see I've managed to gather a fairly solid list. True I'm missing most of the artillery, NBC defense, and IADS, troops, but I managed to get a lot if not most of the ground forces, and all of the SpetNaz and VDV units. I'm still working on it, and hopefully I'll have a more or less complete list eventually.

I am not sure. Look at Far Eastern MD - it is impossible that one Spetsnaz Brigade guards border with China!

Feanor said:
The reforms will continue for the simple reason that too many of them are already in full swing, and most are very difficult to reverse. Not to mention that the new structure has already been battletested in both the Chechen and Georgian wars. Russian generals are indeed very unhappy, at least a large chunk of them, and are also getting replaced in large numbers. Most recently head of the VDV was replaced.

Well, there were many reforms since USSR's break-up. However they always ended in major troops cut-backs without improving weapons quality and army readiness. Note Russia did not develop and buy almost any new weapons since 20 years thus now situation is critical because all this time was wasted. At present every army branch desperately needs new armament while professional army is significantly more expensive than conscript force. At the end economic crisis does not allow huge military spending.

That is why I suppose that after reform's implementation Russian Army will be much smaller but still badly equipped force. Simply next generation weapons and doctrines emerged worldwide thanks to RMA concept and this process omitted Russia almost completely.

Feanor · May 29, 2009

Arc Light said:
I am not sure. Look at Far Eastern MD - it is impossible that one Spetsnaz Brigade guards border with China!

Like I said, I'm still working on it. The list is far from complete. Total of about 80 brigades are supposed to be formed. True some are still in formation, and not all divisions have been disbanded yet, so this isn't a final list.

Well, there were many reforms since USSR's break-up. However they always ended in major troops cut-backs without improving weapons quality and army readiness. Note Russia did not develop and buy almost any new weapons since 20 years thus now situation is critical because all this time was wasted. At present every army branch desperately needs new armament while professional army is significantly more expensive than conscript force. At the end economic crisis does not allow huge military spending.

Time will tell, but right now new equipment is being purchased, and in notable numbers. With the current restructuring significant funds will be freed up from maintenance of cadre formations, and from selling off military property. This is also the first military reform at the heart of which are not cuts, but a fundamental re-organization. This reorganization is far more significant then the cuts that are being made.

That is why I suppose that after reform's implementation Russian Army will be much smaller but still badly equipped force. Simply next generation weapons and doctrines emerged worldwide thanks to RMA concept and this process omitted Russia almost completely.

I don't think you understand the nature of the current reforms. The Russian Army will have more deployable troops after then before. Whether the RMA threshold will be crossed remains to be seen.

Arc Light · May 29, 2009

Feanor said:
Like I said, I'm still working on it. The list is far from complete. Total of about 80 brigades are supposed to be formed. True some are still in formation, and not all divisions have been disbanded yet, so this isn't a final list.

Do you mean all brigades or only tank, mechanized and air-assault ones? I guess the first because 80 brigades are equivalent of 26 Western divisions which is too large number for present Russian financial capabilities..

Feanor said:
Time will tell, but right now new equipment is being purchased, and in notable numbers. With the current restructuring significant funds will be freed up from maintenance of cadre formations, and from selling off military property. This is also the first military reform at the heart of which are not cuts, but a fundamental re-organization. This reorganization is far more significant then the cuts that are being made.

Unfortunately this is mainly outdated equipment according to Western standards because Russian military industry cannot build really brand-new arms.

However the most crucial point is Russian military doctrine and especially definition of probable enemy: other military powers like NATO and China or COIN operations and small neighbors' armies. Russian generals admitted such small land forces without major mobilization base will exclude Russia's capability to wage regional war. So only nuclear umbrella will remain but potential Russian enemies will possess nuclear parity or even superiority minimizing possibility of Russian preemption at best. Now Kremlin seems to try fulfill both strategic scenarios but it is very hard to achieve.

Feanor said:
I don't think you understand the nature of the current reforms. The Russian Army will have more deployable troops after then before. Whether the RMA threshold will be crossed remains to be seen.

Yet such plan of military reform won't change situation because much less even more deployable troops with still outdated equipment cannot strengthen army potential.

Feanor · May 29, 2009

Arc Light said:
Do you mean all brigades or only tank, mechanized and air-assault ones? I guess the first because 80 brigades are equivalent of 26 Western divisions which is too large number for present Russian financial capabilities..

This is all brigades including artillery, engineers, and NBC-defense.

Unfortunately this is mainly outdated equipment according to Western standards because Russian military industry cannot build really brand-new arms.

Outdated compared to whom? The US? Probably. The Europeans? Not as much. The Chinese? Well not really. But then again neither of those are a likely opponent, and for all of those we have the RVSN.

For Georgia, Chechnya, or Tadjik rebels it's more then enough. Hell it's more then enough to steam-roll even medium sized NATO forces should they appear within the CIS.

However the most crucial point is Russian military doctrine and especially definition of probable enemy: other military powers like NATO and China or COIN operations and small neighbors' armies. Russian generals admitted such small land forces without major mobilization base will exclude Russia's capability to wage regional war. So only nuclear umbrella will remain but potential Russian enemies will possess nuclear parity or even superiority minimizing possibility of Russian preemption at best. Now Kremlin seems to try fulfill both strategic scenarios but it is very hard to achieve.

Actually a new doctrine is being written right now. Supposedly NATO will no longer a potential opponent for full scale war. The main enemies are hostile FSU states, irregulars, and potentially China.

Yet such plan of military reform won't change situation because much less even more deployable troops with still outdated equipment cannot strengthen army potential.

Let me get this straight. Going from a lower readyness rates force to a higher readyness rates force will not improve the situation?

Again the over-emphasis on equipment. The likely opponents have nothing that we can't currently match. If the re-armament program goes as planned, then likely opponents won't be able to match us for years and years to come.

Aleks3205 · May 30, 2009

Hello you wrote abt forces stationed in Osetia and Abhasia where have you find all these information? I asked abt border guard forces because their deployment this region widely discussed in Russian mass media. And there are few information abt armed forces as for MVD troops – there are no any of them there. A friend of mine have just returned from his vocation in Suhumi and he did not mentioned significant amounts of forces. Nearly all Russian militaries in the city are from border guard, most of them were transmitted from north Caucasus region.
I am really interested of watching all these Russian blogs. Don’t you think this’s the part of disinformation efforts to prevent Georgia from another invasion. I’l be thank fool you for piece of advise abt most interesting Russian blogs

Feanor · May 30, 2009

Aleks3205 said:
Hello you wrote abt forces stationed in Osetia and Abhasia where have you find all these information? I asked abt border guard forces because their deployment this region widely discussed in Russian mass media. And there are few information abt armed forces as for MVD troops – there are no any of them there. A friend of mine have just returned from his vocation in Suhumi and he did not mentioned significant amounts of forces. Nearly all Russian militaries in the city are from border guard, most of them were transmitted from north Caucasus region.
I am really interested of watching all these Russian blogs. Don’t you think this’s the part of disinformation efforts to prevent Georgia from another invasion. I’l be thank fool you for piece of advise abt most interesting Russian blogs

I posted all my sources at the bottom of the post. I realize they're kinda messy and hard to sort through, so here's the article on Abkhazian bases. ???????? ? ???????

The helicopter regiments number isn't mentioned but it says Кореновский полк. A quick google search provided me with info that the Кореновский полк is the 55th Helicopter Regiment.
???????? ?????????

It also matched up the equipment, which both articles mention as a mixed Mi-8 and Mi-24. The news about T-90 deliveries came from lenta.ru, and matched up with earlier statements about re-armament of the 58th Army being a top priority. Given that each brigade only includes one tank btln, and that allegedly 3 tank btlns are bought this year, it's also quite realistic that both brigades are being re-armed this year like the article claims.
Lenta.ru: Îðóæèå: Ðîññèéñêèå áàçû â Þæíîé Îñåòèè è Àáõàçèè ïîëó÷àò òàíêè Ò-90

I'm sorry but I have no info on the border guards deployments (though I know that they are happening). I also can't direct you to any blogs. I don't use blogs, I just use regular news outlets. I do happen to look through them very thoroughly, which is how I get my info. Occasionally Russian forums also help. Ryadovoy.ru is making their own list like mine, and it's far more complete. However their sources come from a certain SSS or ССС in Russian, who claims to be a Russian colonel. They're not open and public sources, which is what I'm aiming for when making this list.

CyberSpec · Jun 12, 2009

The 131 MR Brigade in Abkhasia received it's T-90A tanks back in March.....there are pictures of them.

Also, it seems a S-300 unit has been deployed there as well.

Feanor · Jun 12, 2009

Can you cite the pictures? I'd be interested to see them. There is an S-300 regiment deployed there, but I'm not sure what the unit number on it is. I'm also not sure what structural changes the air-defense forces will undergo. Will regiments remain, or will they be turned into brigades.

Any other info you have would be very helpful.

CyberSpec · Jun 13, 2009

Feanor · Jun 13, 2009

Do you whether T-90s have been delivered to S. Ossetia too?

EDIT: Added info about T-90s, and S-300 regiment. Also about Grad and BMPs that are visible on the photo you provided.

CyberSpec · Jun 19, 2009

Feanor said:
Do you whether T-90s have been delivered to S. Ossetia too?

AFAIK the Brigade in SO hasn't received them yet. Apparently they're suppose to receive them by the end of the year.

And BTW, the new brigades have a LOT of artillery. Each MR and Tank Brigade has 36 x SP guns + 12 x MRL + 12 x SP Mortars + a battery of towed AT/ field guns......that's more akin to a division than a brigade.

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