Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on Tuesday that he would implement the president Vladimir Putin last year’s order to strengthen the country’s armed forces.
According to Šoigu, a new army corps will be formed in the Republic of Karelia, near the Finnish border. There are units near the Finnish border that could form the basis of larger groups.
1. What ground forces units does Russia have near the Finnish border?
According to Šoigu, the existing brigades of the Western, Central and Eastern Military Districts could be expanded into motorized infantry divisions.
The Russian brigades near the Finnish border are the 200th Motorized Infantry Brigade in Alakurti, located in Petsamo, the 80th Motorized Infantry Brigade near Salla, and the 138th Motorized Infantry Brigade in Kamenka, near Vyborg on the Karelian Isthmus.
According to some information, the 4th motorized infantry brigade is stationed in Petrozavodsk, but it is possibly just a stockpile for the establishment of the brigade.
2. What do the units of the land forces consist of?
The basic unit of the Russian ground forces is a battalion, which usually has 700–900 men.
A battalion consists of two to four companies, in addition to which there are, for example, anti-tank, artillery or mortar, transport, maintenance, pioneer and medical sections. Motorized battalions also use armored personnel carriers and light assault vehicles.
A battalion is usually a unit consisting mainly of troops of one type of weapon, such as a pioneer battalion or a motorized infantry battalion. These have very few troops of other types of weapons. They are not capable of independent operation without the support of upper management.
In recent years, a large number of units, which are called by name, have been established in Russia battalion tactical section (you transfer to another service).
They are formed by reinforcing an existing motorized infantry battalion or tank battalion with the brigade’s weapons forces, such as artillery and anti-aircraft, so that they are able to operate independently longer than the base battalion.
The reason behind the establishment of the battalion’s tactical departments is that Russia has not had the ability to maintain full-strength brigades due to the lack of manpower, says the former intelligence chief of the Defense Forces Pekka Toveri.
The battalion’s combat units are a bad reform
In Ukraine, the battalion’s combat units have proven unsuccessful, says Toveri. They are too weak to go it alone or to be able to capitalize on success, if any. The biggest problem is the lack of infantry. For this reason, the Russians have started to form larger operational groups.
In the Ukrainian war, brigades have become the basic units of battles. They consist of two to four battalions with a common headquarters and various support departments. They can be, for example, anti-aircraft, intelligence and maintenance companies.
The total strength of the motorized infantry brigade is 4,500 soldiers.
Regiments are similar units to brigades, consisting of three to four battalions. They are weaker than a brigade, as they do not include as many weapon units, i.e. infantry, or support troops such as artillery and anti-aircraft.
According to Pekka Tover, the Russian armed forces underwent a reform in the early years of the 21st century, which aimed to move to brigades. Now, under Defense Minister Šoigu, traditional regiments are making a comeback.
3. What are a division and an army corps?
The division was the basic unit of the Soviet Army during the Second World War.
In modern times, it consists of motorized infantry and tank regiments and weapons regiments and battalions. In addition, the divisions have, among other things, their own artillery, missile units, a helicopter department and a technical department for repairing equipment.
A motorized infantry division of the Russian army usually has just under 10,000 fighters, an armored division has about 6,000.
An army can have several brigades and divisions, but its composition varies according to the mission. At its smallest, an army corps can consist of only one brigade or division, supplemented by support units.
The 14th Army Corps is located in the vicinity of Finland in the Kola region. Under it are the 80th and 200th Motorized Infantry Brigades.
4. What would change beyond the border?
Russia has stated that it will react in some way to the changing military balance when Finland eventually joins NATO. In his speech, Defense Minister Šoigu did not specify whether the reform and increase of the Russian armed forces is related to the situation in Finland.
Last Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (you will switch to another service) said his country would take “appropriate measures at the borders” if Finland joins NATO. Lavrov did not elaborate on what he was referring to.
Šoigu also did not specify whether any of the units near Finland are being converted to a larger one for the new Karelian Army Corps or whether a completely new unit will be established.
Experts are skeptical that Russia has the resources to increase its armed forces, which are constantly tied up and worn down by the war in Ukraine.
Comrade: No big change
According to Pekka Tover, Russia’s announcement about increasing troops on the Finnish border was not a surprise.
A unit the size of perhaps even a division will be nominally established near the border, but the number of men near the border will not increase significantly, perhaps by a few thousand. Russia simply does not have the troops to bring here, he says.
Comrade also points out that new garrisons, training fields and other facilities should be built for new troops. This will take years.
In addition, Toveri states that Russia also understands that NATO is not attacking anything through Finland. The border is peaceful. Russia’s interest is now in central Europe, Toveri sums up.
Russian material is dwindling
Ylen Ykkösaamu 9.1. former intelligence chief Toveri said that Russia’s material has been reduced to such an extent that it has to deploy increasingly older types of tanks from stockpiles. Also, for example, artillery grenades are running low.
Soldiers have been taken from bases near Finland to Ukraine. The units have reportedly suffered heavy losses.
Šoigu gave the reform until 2026. He said that Russia would re-establish the military districts of Moscow and Leningrad. The meaning of this decision is unclear for now.
These military districts had existed since Soviet times until they were combined in 2010 into the Western Military District.
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Last May, presented satellite images of bases near Russia.