Russian Military equipment in Crimea

Russian and Very Strong: Crimea's Military a Year Since Reunification

Less than a year after it unified with Russia, Crimea is home to a full-fledged military grouping and developments continue as the peninsula improves its security.

Crimea's military modernization has become one of the key events in the development of the country's military in the year since it joined Russia; seven new formations and eight military bases have been added to the Russian military presence on the peninsula, which Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu called a "full-fledged, self sufficient military grouping."

Ukrainian 'Heritage'

After Crimea's reunification with Russia, over 9,000 former Ukrainian servicemen and 7,000 Ukrainian civilian personnel joined the Russian military. Over 70 subdivisions of the Ukrainian armed forces voluntarily joined the Russian military, as well as 25 auxiliary vessels and six warships.

After the March 2014 Crimean referendum, Viktor Chirkov, the commander of the Russian Navy, announced that Crimea had 79 Ukrainian Navy ships, including 25 warships, which Russia was ready to hand over to Ukraine.

Military machinery prepared for shipment to Ukraine

Since April 11, 2014, when the missile boat Priluki was handed over, Russia has transferred 43 ships and boats to Ukraine, as well as all Ukrainian military vehicles and also some of its planes and helicopters. However, in mid-June, when Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council suspended its military and technical cooperation agreement with Russia, the process was paused.

On Monday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that Ukraine intends to take back the rest of Ukrainian weaponry in Crimea. However, this is not very likely as the Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Aleksandr Vitko, announced in 2014 that the transfer process would not be resumed because the transferred weaponry could be used in the Donbas conflict.

New Forces

In September 2014, Defense Minister Shoigu noted that the escalation of the Ukrainian situation, Crimea's reunification with Russia and a growing military presence near Russian borders created "determined corrections" to the Southern Military District's command.


New equipment arrives at Belbek airfield in Crimea

In November 2014, 14 multipurpose Su-27SM and Su-30 jets arrived at the Belbek Air Base and the air defense received new S-300PMU and Pantsi-S1 systems.


Launch of guard ship 'Admiral Essen' in Kaliningrad

Crimea's re-unification with Russia also led to new developments in the Black Sea Fleet, which Ukraine previously attempted to impede. In 2015 and 2016, the Black Sea Fleet will receive six new Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, six Project 636 "Varshavianka" diesel submarines, as well as Buyan-M missile boats, most of which will be based in Crimea.

New Defenses

New anti-sabotage and defense forces have also buffed up Crimea's security. The Sevastopol Oceanarium, which trained the Ukrainian Navy's bottlenose dolphins joined the Russian Navy, and in November 2014, the Black Sea Fleet conducted exercises with the dolphins, which detected submarines at a depth of over 60 meters.


Diving training center of Black Sea fleet

In addition to dolphins, the Black Sea Fleet is creating a center for training frogmen for rescue and counter-sabotage activity. In June 2014, Admiral Vitko announced that the Navy is planning to create a new center for diving specialists, using the Black Sea Fleet Diving School in Sevastopol as a base.

The Black Sea Fleet's coastal defenses also received new Bal and Bastion anti-ship missile systems, which replaced older versions. In addition, Crimea gained a mountain defense battalion, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) regiment to monitor NATO ships, a radiological-chemical-nuclear defense regiment and a new artillery regiment with 300 units of equipment.

In December, the Crimean Naval Base in Sevastopol, which Russia ceded to Ukraine in 1996 was rebuilt. In addition, Sevastopol will now handle the repair of Russian ships, including those performing duty in the Mediterranean. However, this is a small part of what was once a system that included submarine bases built into cliffs, and the Black Sea Fleet is scheduled to receive over 86 billion rubles ($1.40 billion) by 2020 to rebuild the system.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150313/1019442247.html#ixzz3UZT5gJ2Q

Year old brilliant operation of our army to forcibly ensure the will of the people of the Crimea and its reunification with Russia. How could now looks "fortress and unsinkable aircraft carrier Crimea" in military terms? What has been done to strengthen the defense of the peninsula from any possible threats?

Crimean bastion year later


Creating a powerful permanent grouping

First, the security of the peninsula was provided mainly due had been transferred there battalion tactical group (BTG) from the Southern and Western Brigades military districts, individual batteries and battalions conventional and rocket artillery, air defense squadrons and units of aircraft and reconnaissance units. In Russia during the time of Ukrainian sovereignty over the Crimea region in the army and it was very little. They are not enough, and the reformation of former Ukrainian parts required time.

Now we can say that the creation of a self-contained group of forces that can perform tasks as a cover, and pose a threat to potential adversaries in peacetime, largely completed. Grouping together with the forces of the Black Sea Fleet is now more than 25 thousand. Man. However, as far as - a military secret.

Peninsula Russian sailors

Priority is given to refurbish the Black Sea Fleet. Construction of a series of six NNS 06363 project goes successfully. The first two boats - "Novorossiysk" and "Rostov-on-Don" - is transferred to the Navy. Although to the Black Sea, they have not yet reached - tested in the North. The third boat "Stary Oskol" recently launched for sea trials, expected to launch the fourth. Equipped with the missile system "Caliber-PL", which includes cruise missiles 3M14 (with a range of several thousand kilometers) and anti-3M54 "Turquoise", these subs are low noise, however, is not based in the Crimea. They were placed on the finish building the naval base in Novorossiysk. There they will form a brigade of submarines, which has already formed.

In Crimea, the same is formed Crimean naval base (HMB). As part of the Sevastopol naval base restored 30th Division of surface ships. The flagship of the Navy missile cruiser "Moskva" this year will be on repairs and upgrades, which will be held in Sevastopol. There were modernized and patrol, "Okay" and "inquisitive". But the former leader of the 90s BPK "Kerch" after a recent fire will not recover - unprofitable to invest in obsolete ships in anticipation of the imminent arrival of new frigates.

Frigate head in a series of six units for the BSF Project 11356M "Admiral Grigorovich" has not yet handed over the fleet, but this is exactly happens in the spring. The second frigate - "Admiral Essen" - being completed afloat, is not far from the launching and "Admiral Makarov". But with the second three frigates have a problem - Kiev banned Nikolaev enterprise "Zorya-Mashproekt" supply gas turbines for them. Decided to re-equip the ships to the Russian turbine. But deadlines triples can move, though it is officially denied. Expected this year and the first two of the six small missile ships (MRC) of the "Buyan-M".

It is important that all new ships, frigates and IRAs are equipped with long-range cruise missiles. This seriously increases the potential impact of the fleet of coastal targets.

Ground forces

On the basis of the former 36th brigade of coastal defense troops APU Perevalnoye created 126th brigade of coastal defense (126 BrBO), inherited the number of the famous Soviet Red Banner twice Gorlovskij coastal defense division. The brigade is currently rearming with modern equipment models. It is composed of a tank battalion, mechanized infantry and mountain rifle battalions, artillery and rocket divisions and other units.

Park armament consists of several hundred armored vehicles. Including more than 40 tanks T-72B, more than fifty pieces of artillery, and so on. In the former Ukrainian military town renovated building, barracks, parks, changing educational and material resources, is under construction property, demolished dilapidated buildings. Gornostrelki and 126 scouts BrBO actively trained not only on the Crimean, but also on the North Caucasus mountain ranges. Incidentally, in the conventional mechanized infantry brigades Russian Armed Forces gornostrelkov not. There is clearly taken into account the specifics of the Crimean - the presence of mountains and some isolation from the rest of Russia.

Formed the 8th Artillery Regiment coastal defense, which includes more than 60 artillery barrel and rocket systems and anti-tank systems. In service with the regiment has 152-mm self-propelled guns "MSTA-S" with ACS guidance and fire and towed howitzer "MSTA-B" MLRS 2B26 - a modernized version of "Castle", long-range 152-mm cannon "Hyacinth-B" and heavy self-propelled anti-tank missiles "Chrysanthemum-C." In terms of power, he is more like a artbrigady and not on the shelf and is designed for fire support covering forces in the border area Perekopa and shoreline protection. The specificity of the Crimea is that with a good artillery support, veiled from the air, even small ground forces could repel any attack.

Previously stationed in the Crimea 810 brigade of marines Black Sea Fleet (its fighters one of the main characters "polite epic") is also now rearmed and reinforced. On the basis of Ukrainian marine battalions formed 501 th separate battalion of marines. In Crimea, also created from scratch - a team of logistics, engineering-sapper regiment, radiation regiment, battalion and rail portion of the chemical and biological defense. Also, there is information about the formation of the 127th Brigade intelligence in Sevastopol. But it is not very clear what it was about - about the special forces brigade, or about something else.

In dislotsiruemye in Crimea part actively recruited as contractors from other regions, and most of the Crimea. There are no restrictions on reception at the service of, say, the Crimean Tatars - no. Local reluctant to serve and to "deferral" and contract.

In fact, in the Crimea created group corps level. Although there is no body control, and combined arms still clearly less than required for a number of pieces of software. So, apparently, in the near future the formation of new parts to continue. Yes and tasks cover the border with Ukraine until resolved is rotated together with units from other regions of unknown numbers.

Sea under the hood

Coastal protection except aviation and navy engaged the newly formed coastal missile brigade at Sevastopol. In service it has several divisions of coastal anti-missile systems (SCRC). The first is moving SCRC "Bastion-P" with supersonic missiles operational use "Onyx". They are able to drown even aircraft carrier group in most of the area of ​​the Black Sea.

For shooting different "nasty stuff" like corvettes and missile boats in the brigade has mobile complexes "Ball" with subsonic ASM "Uranus-U." Restored and former Ukrainian stationary complex "Cliff" missile "Progress". One of two divisions of this interesting system was sacked Ukrainian thieves in uniform, and the second was mothballed and hurt them a little. His and "revived". The system is old, but her range even more than the "Onyx" and warhead even nonnuclear able to drown everything in that one missile hit than an aircraft carrier. Therefore, we can assume that the Black Sea is under our reliable cap.

Air Shield

The threat from the air cover peninsula powerful air defenses. They consist of several battalions of S-300PM2 "Favorite" and the battery cover missile and gun systems 96K6 «shell-S", probably belonging to the anti-aircraft missile regiment. Most likely, in the Crimea will appear and S-400. Then the sky will be blocked at high altitudes over the greater part of the Black Sea. Including much of the Turkish coast, coastline Romania and Bulgaria piece, not to mention Ukraine. But the fate of the former Ukrainian battalions of S-300PS is unclear. Ukraine, most likely will not see them have never been. But what about their location on duty in the Crimea conflicting information - whether they are stockpiled, or partially used. In addition, in the Crimea will soon be over the horizon radar surface wave (such work only over the sea) "Sunflower" .He budetkontrolirovat and surface and air situation at any altitude over virtually the entire sea. Also, the BSF has its own anti-aircraft missile regiment, covering the Sevastopol.

On the "deck of an aircraft carrier Crimea" formed the 27th Air Division mixed 4th Air Force and Air Defense Command JUVO. Once in the Crimea military used 16 airfields, now plan to use until five. But much of the rest and bring to a first-class condition. This is to improve survival and aviagruppirovki for extra strength. While the division includes the 37th regiment in mixed Guards (bombers Su-24M2 and Su-25), the 38th Fighter Regiment in Belbek (Su-27SM and Su-30M2), 39th Helicopter Regiment in Jankoi (combat helicopters Mi-35M, Mi-8AMTSh). In the future, a mixed regiment divided into assault and bombing. This year, he received the latest multi-role fighters Su-30cm. Began to receive them and the 43rd Marine Regiment assault aviation BSF.

In general, we can say with confidence that the Crimea ever returned to Russia. If someone tries to challenge it - three days will not live.

Nuclear argument

There is talk about placement in the Crimea tactical missile systems (PTRC) "Iskander-M". It is possible that during the exercise and unannounced inspections of these PTRC in the Crimea will appear. That's what happened with the long-range bombers Tu-22M3, slung this week during the audit readiness. These aircraft next year may be registered in the Crimea on a permanent basis. But so far no precise evidence of this.

Separately, it should be said about nuclear "special" combat units (SBCH). After the reunification was officially stated that while no nuclear weapons placed in the Crimea is not planned. Although none of the contract, we do not prohibit. It is now known that the peninsula recreated the territorial body of the 12th Main Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry, which is engaged in the storage, transport and service SBCH. Of course, this fact does not mean that nuclear weapons on the peninsula will surely be. But the possibilities for this are.

"Fortress Crimea"

Further information on the new military units created in Crimea;
http://svpressa.ru/war21/article/115849/

Info about russian military hardware in Crimea

http://eagle-rost.livejournal.com/624531.html

Crimean bastion: how the military infrastructure of the peninsula has changed

The newspaper Izvestiya published Dmitry Boltenkov’s interesting material “The Crimean Bastion: How the Peninsula’s Military Infrastructure Has Changed. The return of the Peninsula to Russia helped revive the Black Sea Fleet,” which said that five years ago Sevastopol and Crimea had returned home. Up to this point, under any authority in Kiev, the Black Sea Fleet was slowly dying. Russia could not replace the aging ships and upgrade naval aircraft, and the coastal defense systems of Sevastopol and the fleet's air defense then simply did not exist as such. These tasks were to be solved by the armed forces of Ukraine, but in 2014 they existed, in fact, only on paper. After the Crimea was part of Russia, the Black Sea Fleet received a new life.

Sea

Previously, the Black Sea Fleet wore the nickname "Museum of Naval Ships". For example, the patrol ship "Sharp-witted" will celebrate 50 years of service this year. A pair of amphibious ships even older. A rescue vessel carrier of the underwater vehicles "Commune" was built during the Russian Empire.

However, now, five years later, such a nickname is no longer relevant for Sevastopol. In 2016–2018, three frigates of project 11356 arrived in it: “Admiral Grigorovich”, “Admiral Essen” and “Admiral Makarov”. These ships have already made a series of trips to the Mediterranean. They also have Caliber missile firing at positions of the terrorist organization ISIL banned in Russia, and successful cases of finding foreign submarines.

In addition to them, the 30th Division of the surface ships includes the patrol ships "Pytlivy", "Ladny" and the already mentioned "Sharp-witted". The flagship of the fleet, the Moscow-launched missile cruiser, will soon be launched again, but in a new capacity. In addition, it is possible that one of the Admiral Gorshkov-type project 22350 frigates currently under construction will be sent to the Black Sea Fleet.

A significant event was the revival of the famous Black Sea subsurface. In 2014, the fleet consisted of only one submarine "Alrosa". In 2019, they were already seven - the ships of project 6363 were added. Although the de jure location of the fourth brigade of submarines is Novorossiysk, in fact the submarines are located at their historic place in the South Bay of the city of Sevastopol. Two boats - "Veliky Novgorod" and "Kolpino" - serve in the Syrian port of Tartus. Incidentally, the Black Sea countries — Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine — have lost their submarine forces.

The Black Sea Fleet includes four small rocket ships: Project 1239 Bora and Samum with Mosquito missiles and two Project 12341 Shtil and Mirage missiles with Malachite missiles. The latter, quite possibly, will soon be equipped with the Uran missile system. In 2018, the Black Sea Fleet included two small rocket ships of the Project 21631 Orekhovo-Zuyevo and Vyshny Volochek with Caliber missiles. In 2019, Ingushetia and Grayvoron will complement this pair. From 2019, the fleet will begin to receive small rocket ships of the project 22800, also armed with "Gauges". The first of these will be the "Cyclone", and another five are now being built in Kerch and Theodosia.

In addition to them, the fleet includes five more missile boats, six small anti-submarine ships and nine minesweepers.

Among all Russian fleets, the Black Sea has the largest number of landing ships - there are seven of them. The construction of landing ships of the Navy plans to continue - in many respects thanks to them and military vehicles, the operation of the “Syrian express” is ensured. Of all the Russian territories, the Crimea is located as close as possible to Syria, so the Russian group is being supplied from the peninsula to the SAR. To participate in the VKS operation, combat aircraft are deployed from the Crimean airfields. Subdivisions of the Black Sea Fleet take part in guarding the Russian army bases in Syria and accompanied by convoys with humanitarian supplies.

In 2018, the patrol ship of project 22160 "Vasily Bykov" entered the Black Sea Fleet. Tests of the second representative of this series - "Dmitry Rogachev" - are still ongoing. The other day, the third multi-purpose combat ship Pavel Derzhavin was launched in Kerch, and by 2022 another three will be added to the fleet. The newly built ships were part of the new division of the 184 brigade of the water area in Novorossiysk.

In the summer, a new trawler of the project 12700 “Ivan Antonov” will arrive in Sevastopol. It will be followed by “Vladimir Emelyanov” and “George Kurbatov” - 74 years have passed since the end of World War II, but sea mines are still found in the coastal waters of the Crimea. In addition, recently the task of patrolling the Mediterranean Sea is increasingly shifted to the Black Sea Fleet.

In addition to warships, new rescue tugs also entered the Black Sea Fleet - they carry a variety of underwater vehicles on board. Soon the fleet will be replenished with new tankers and multi-functional vessels. The reconnaissance capabilities were reinforced by the new reconnaissance ship Ivan Hurs.

The tasks of monitoring the marine environment are solved by the 77th observation area. The radar posts of this area control all activity in the Black and Azov seas. In 2019, the district will receive the “MR-232 Bussol-S” radars, information from which will be sent to the Rubezh automated technical control system.

Since 2014, the Black Sea Fleet has received more than 50 ships, submarines, boats and auxiliary vessels.

Land

During the years of the Great Patriotic War, the Marines defended Odessa, Sevastopol and Novorossiysk, and participated in landings. Today, the 810th Marine Brigade is the pride of the Black Sea Fleet. In 2016, this compound was awarded the Order of Zhukov for participation in hostilities in Syria, and in early 2018 received the title of Guards. It is worth noting that the brigade has already replaced the Soviet BTR-80 with the newest BTR-82AM.

The Black Sea Fleet has always been strong with its special units. In 2016, a “coastal special forces” appeared in the fleet - a special detachment to combat the saboteurs, armed with the anti-sabotage boats “Rook” and fighting boats “Raptor”.

Under the control of 22 army corps there are 126 coastal defense brigade, which includes tank, motorized rifle and mountain units. In its combat power, the brigade is not much inferior to the motorized rifle division. The 127th reconnaissance brigade, equipped with a variety of electronic equipment and drones, also enters the corps.

The tasks of the artillery support are solved by the 8th regiment. In addition to the MLRS "Tornado" it receives the MLRS "Uragan" and "Uragan-1M" systems. In addition, it includes divisions armed with the latest anti-tank complex Chrysanthemum.

If necessary, the 47th territorial defense division can be deployed in the Crimea from the vaults and reservists.

In 2014, the coastal defense system of the main base of the Black Sea Fleet, and of the entire Crimea, was recreated. The 15th rocket brigade became the basis of coastal defense. At present, it consists of two divisions each with the coastal missile systems "Bastion" and "Ball", as well as the restored underground missile complex "Cliff". This "superbrigade" is capable of guaranteed to destroy any foreign warship entering the Black Sea.

Radio over the Crimea controls the 475th center of electronic warfare. The center is armed with, in particular, the newest post-2012 communication suppression systems at the Murmansk-BN KV station.

The airborne assault battalion of the Airborne Forces is based in Dzhankoy, which is the closest to the Russian-Ukrainian border. In 2019, the 97th Airborne Assault Regiment of the 7th Guards Novorossiysk Airborne Assault (Mountain) Division will be formed in the city.


Air

Crimea has long been considered the country's “unsinkable aircraft carrier”. In 2014, four aviation regiments were deployed on the peninsula. One of them was the 43rd Marine Assault Regiment. In 2016, he bade farewell to the Su-24 attack aircraft - now it includes Su-30SM and Su-24M attack aircraft. Other air regiments were units of the 27th mixed division of the 4th Air Army of the VKS.

The regiments are located in Guards, Dzhankoy and Belbek. The 38th mixed air regiment with Su-24M bombers, Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft and Su-25SM attack aircraft is based at the airfield of Guards. The 37th Fighter Aviation Regiment is based at the Belbek airfield. It is armed with Su-27SM, Su-27 and Su-30M2 fighters. In 2019, the reconstruction of the airfield was completed: now it will be able to take on any combat aircraft, including strategic bombers. The 39th helicopter air regiment with the newest Mi-28N, Ka-52, Mi-35 and Mi-8AMTSH is located in Dzhankoy.

The 31st Air Defense Division is covering Crimea from an air attack. In 2017–2018, the airspace of the Crimea was defended by four divisions of the S-400 complex, located in Dzhankoy, Yevpatoria, Sevastopol and Feodosia. They are supported by several air defense divisions of the S-300PM, as well as the Pantsir-S combat vehicles. In the winter of 2018, near Kerch, an additional division Pantsir-S was deployed to cover the Crimean Bridge: now the sky above the peninsula is completely blocked.

The air space is monitored by the 55G6M Sky-M radar. They were located in the Crimea in early 2018 and look through the entire airspace over the Black Sea to the Bosphorus and Dardanelles.

The 22nd Army Corps includes the 1096th anti-aircraft regiment. So far, the Osa air defense missile system is in its armament, but it is gradually replaced by the Buk-M2 complexes, and later on by the Buk-M3.

The control of aviation forces, air defense systems, combat helicopters and UAVs is carried out with the help of a new automated control system with elements of artificial intelligence.

Tourists traveling around the Black Sea at the entrance to Sevastopol can pay attention to two large gray buildings. This is a Dnepr missile warning system radar. From this point the south and west directions are visible. It is known that in 2019 the construction of a new radar "Voronezh-SM" will begin in Sevastopol.

For five years, a powerful defensive "bastion" was created around the Crimea and Sevastopol, which is guaranteed to protect the inhabitants of the peninsula from any attack from outside.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3569899.html

Tsavo Lion wrote:French ship blocked Russian S-400 complexes in occupied Crimea
https://www.unian.net/weapons/francuzskiy-korabl-zablokiroval-rossiyskie-kompleksy-s-400-v-okkupirovannom-krymu-poslednie-novosti-11138462.html



Can it really jamm S-400 radars & communications? I really doubt it. It's a spy ship to monitor electronic emissions.

Banderite media sources are loopy propaganda trash. Any "information" source that claims that Russian regular army units are "occupying" the Donbass has zero credibility.