Colonel General Yevgeny Burdinsky, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, in an article in the June issue, said that in 2023, two armies will be created in the Russian armed forces: two military districts – Moscow and Leningrad, with combined arms and air. The magazine of the Ministry of Defense of Russia “Military Commissariats of Russia”.
“In 2023, it is necessary to carry out timely organizational and personnel support for the formation of the combined arms and air armies, one corps, the Azov sea region, five divisions and 26 brigades,” added the military leader.
He pointed out that the tasks of forming the composition and increasing the number of the Russian armed forces in 2023 should be completed in a short time.
The general explained that for this it is necessary to equip, deploy and provide personnel in an organized manner, as well as synchronize this process with the deadlines for the submission of samples of military equipment, weapons and other supplies.
According to Burdinsky, the main task this year is “the selection of citizens for military service under the contract … as well as the implementation of the norm of conscription of citizens”.
The RF Armed Forces planned 863 events at various levels to improve the preparation of military commissariats, “taking into account the experience of partial mobilization … for the mobilization of human and transport resources.”
Changes after partial mobilization
The general said that the partial mobilization announced in Russia on September 21, 2022 allowed the creation of more than 280 military units and sub-units in the army.
He noted that since the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 there had been no mobilization of this magnitude in the country. According to him, mobilization activities were carried out during the preparation of a contingent of Soviet troops to enter Afghanistan in December 1979, but then about 55 thousand citizens were called from the reserve.
“During the liquidation of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, more than 310 thousand people were alternately called up for special training for four and a half years, 88 military units were formed,” Burdinsky recalled.
Increase in the size of the army
Now there are four military districts in Russia – Central, Western, Eastern and Southern. In December 2022, the need for the creation of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts was announced by the Minister of Defense of Russia, Sergei Shoigu.
According to him, such actions are caused by “NATO’s desire to create military potential near the borders of Russia and expand the North Atlantic Alliance at the expense of Finland and Sweden.” The minister then offered to establish a corps in Karelia, pointing to the need to improve the composition and structure of the branches of the Russian armed forces.
At the same time, the head of the department announced the plans of the Russian army to create “self-contained troop groups” in the annexed territory.
In addition, Shoigu called for Russia’s increase in the number of armed forces to 1.5 million military personnel, including up to 695,000 contract soldiers, “to guarantee the solution of the tasks of ensuring military security”. President Vladimir Putin supported this idea. The Minister also proposed increasing the military age from 18-27 to 21-30; The relevant draft law was submitted to the State Duma in March.
In January, the Minister of Defense announced that all planned changes in the Russian army will be implemented by 2026. The head of the department called for special attention to the recruitment of contracted military personnel and to increase the number of training areas in military zones. At the end of May, a bill was submitted to the State Duma proposing to allow citizens with criminal records and limited military service to serve on a contract basis during mobilization and wartime.
Source: Gazeta
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