The creation of the administrative-territorial system in the domestic armed forces began in the 60s of the XIX century. The first appeared military districts of Russia contributed to the rational acquisition and supply of garrisons, units and units, and also provided the opportunity for strategic planning of the defense doctrine. Depending on the assigned tactical tasks, they could be borderline, internal and frontal. Administrative units were most often named according to the names of cities, regions or geographical provinces. In modern history, this tradition was continued by the military districts of Russia. The list of formations in different eras corresponded to the military-political situation and the territory of the state. By the beginning of World War I there were twelve of them. The maximum number of counties - thirty-two - was counted at the end of 1945. During the period of the highest military power of the state, in 1983, 16 districts and 4 groupings of troops functioned in Eastern Europe.
How many military districts in Russia
As part of the reorganization of the armed forces in 2010, the number of administrative districts was reduced to four. When creating new structures, the united US military commands were taken as a model. On the basis of territorial combined arms formations, new operational and strategic subjects of command were formed. In 2014, the creation of the northern group began to organize the defense of the Arctic areas from the three districts.
The effectiveness of the introduced innovative combat control system of the General Staff should be ensured by the military districts of Russia formed on a new principle. The list of military administrative units is as follows:
- Western District (USC "West").
- Southern District (USC "South").
- Central District (USC "Center").
- Eastern District (USC Vostok).
- At the stage of creation is OSK "North".
In peacetime, the joint strategic commands with their areas of responsibility are called districts.
Military units of the new formation
The newly formed military districts of Russia include:
- all garrisons of the Ministry of Defense stationed on their territory;
- operating subordinate units of the internal troops, the border service of the FSB, part of the Ministry of Emergencies and other law enforcement agencies.
The military districts of Russia in their present form are interspecific groupings of troops under a single command. Such a management system has been recognized as the most effective on the basis of the experience of armed conflicts and counter-terrorism operations of recent decades.
In addition, the military districts of Russia are in charge of medical and sanatorium institutions, educational and research institutions, training centers and other life support facilities.
The territorial command is not subordinated to long-range aviation units, the Strategic Rocket Forces Directorate, and the aerospace defense troops.
Joint Strategic Command "West"
During structural changes in the armed forces in 2010, the Western Military District of Russia was the first to be formed. The basis for the creation of a new subject of military-administrative division was the former Moscow and Leningrad combined arms associations. The Baltic Fleet is also subordinate to the strategic command. The headquarters is located in St. Petersburg.
Military garrisons are located in the administrative borders of thirty subjects of the North-West, Central and part of the Volga-Vyatka federal districts. In connection with the formation of the Arctic Group of Forces, some regions will be re-subordinated.
The Western group includes two armies, four separate motorized rifle brigades, one armored and three landing divisions - in total more than two and a half thousand military units. The personnel exceeds 400 thousand people, which is the third part of the total number of the Russian army.
The first command of the air forces and air defense is subordinated to single leadership.
The ships of the fleet are deployed in the Baltic and Leningrad (Kronstadt, St. Petersburg and Lomonosov) naval bases. The fleet has at its disposal eight units of the Marine Corps.
Southern Grouping
The southern military district of Russia is organized on the basis of military and administrative units of the North Caucasus and part of the Volga-Ural military associations. The formation structure includes units of the Black Sea Fleet and the Caspian Flotilla. The headquarters is located in Rostov-on-Don. The task of the district’s personnel is, first of all, to defend the southern borders and ensure stability in the Transcaucasus.
The military units of two armies, one mountain division and an airborne assault brigade are deployed in 13 regions of the Southern and North Caucasian Federal Districts, as well as on the Crimean Peninsula.
Air defense and air forces are subordinate to the fourth command.
The Black Sea Fleet has its main base in Sevastopol and Feodosia. The construction of a naval base in Novorossiysk is nearing completion. Ships of the Caspian flotilla are based in Astrakhan, Kaspiysk and Makhachkala.
In the Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory there are two centers for training pilots of carrier-based aviation. The fleet has four large units of marines in the Black Sea and the Caspian.
Southern District Formations Abroad
The Southern Strategic Command also has bases located outside the Russian Federation:
- In the capital of the South Ossetian Republic - the city of Tskhinval - the 4th base is quartered. The formation was created on the basis of two motorized rifle regiments and one division. The staff of more than 4 thousand people. The military base was awarded the title of guards.
- The 102nd base is located in Gyumri (Republic of Armenia). In addition to motorized rifle units, C-300 B complexes and MIG-29 fighters are deployed here. The total number of military personnel is about 4 thousand people.
- In the city of Gudauta (Republic of Abkhazia), the 7th military base was stationed.
- The Black Sea Fleet has a base of technical and material support for ships and vessels in the Syrian port of Tartus.
Formations abroad play the role of important geopolitical instruments.
Central United Command
By merging the Volga-Ural and Siberian (to the territory of Lake Baikal) districts, the Central Military District of Russia was created. The headquarters of the combined command is located in Yekaterinburg.
This district is the largest in the country. Its area is 7 million km 2 - this is 40% of the state’s area and 39% of the population. Military units are deployed in the Volga region, Western Siberia and the Urals - in 29 regions of three federal districts. The spaces beyond the Arctic Circle will be transferred to the Arctic Command. In the center of the country, the tactical units of the ground forces are part of two combined-arms armies and several separate formations, including one air assault brigade.
The compound includes the second command of the Air Force and Air Defense
Strategic aviation bases are located in the Okrug (in the cities of Engels and Irkutsk), as well as the base of transport aircraft in Orenburg. Operationally, these units are not subordinate to the command of the district.
Formations of the Central District in Central Asia
The compound of the central part of Russia has in its composition the 201st twice-red-banner base, deployed in Tajikistan. The main task of the military is to protect the Tajik-Afghan border.
Joint Strategic Command "East"
As a result of structural changes in operational-strategic management, a part of the Siberian, Trans-Baikal and Far Eastern combined-arms associations were included in the Eastern Military District of Russia. The commander of the new formation submits to the Pacific Fleet. The headquarters is in Khabarovsk.
Military units are located in the administrative boundaries of eleven subjects of two federal districts. The area of responsibility is a little less than 7 million km 2. The main striking power of the ground forces is 4 armies and separate formations: 9 motorized rifle brigades, a fortified area in the Jewish Autonomous Region, 2 air assault, 3 missile, one missile and artillery and 3 special forces brigades. It is possible that some large formations will be transferred to the Northern Group of Forces.
Air defense and air force are subordinate to the 3rd command.
The ships of the Pacific Fleet are based in Vladivostok, Fokino and Vilyuchinsk. Naval aviation is deployed at the dual-use airport Yelizovo and at the airbases Nikolaevka, Knevichi and Kamenny Ruchey.
Four units of the aerospace defense troops are not subordinate to the operational command.
Formations of the Eastern District in the Pacific
Preparatory work is underway to restore the former Soviet base of Camran in Vietnam to service the submarines of the Russian Pacific Fleet. The use of the base is planned in conjunction with the Vietnamese military.
