russian army continues to actively change its structure and enlarges its formations by creating two more combined arms armies - the 51st and 3rd. They were transformed from the 1st and 2nd Army Corps, which were created by the occupiers in 2014 on the territory of the partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
It should be noted that previously both corps were directly subordinated to the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District of the russian federation. Thus, we are talking about the completion of the process of consolidation of russian formations, which means increasing the staffing of the former corps by adding additional regiments, brigades and divisions.
Read more: russia Upgrades UMPC System, Claims Increased Range
This was reported by russian unofficial sources, which have provided information retroactively, citing secrecy. The first mention of the creation of armies instead of corps dates back to the end of July.
It is important to note that the information about the plans to form the 51st Combined Arms Army that appeared in the Ukrainian media in late June turned out to be an incorrect interpretation. In particular, a number of media outlets reported on the "revival of the World War II-era 51st Army in russia" based on information by ISW, without checking the source.
In this case, ISW referred to the Ukrinform that informed about the statement of the spokesman for Kharkiv operational-tactical group Yurii Povkh on the air of the national telethon, mentioning the "9th motorized rifle brigade of the 51st Army of the russian federation" operating in Kharkiv sector.
Despite several publications estimating that the 51st Army is just a fiction and an artificially created formation, there was nothing about this topic in the public space. However, as it turned out, we are talking about two armies, created not from scratch, but on the basis of army corps.
In other words, it is about a consistent development, when an army corps consisting of several brigades and regiments is transformed into a combined arms army. It is the largest operational unit and consists of several divisions and brigades. And this is much more threatening, because both the combat and command components remain. At the same time, the army's own high-capacity facilities and reserves are growing.
It should be noted that the creation of two more combined arms armies in russia can hardly be news to the Defense Forces of Ukraine. However, it should be added that currently the main formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are brigades that in some cases are united into corps. At the same time, the process of consolidating brigades into divisions has not taken place, and preference has been given to forming new brigades.
It may seem that there is not much difference. But the question of the feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of the transition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to a divisional structure is very important. Ultimately, the brigade commander is currently responsible for the defense of a 4-20 km section of the front, while the combined arms army is allocated a 35-50 km. All the forces and means of several divisions and brigades of this army are under a single command and in a single structure of accountability and responsibility.
Earlier Defense Express reported that russian occupiers had failed to recruit locals in occupied Ukrainian territories to their army.
Read more: What's the Point in Gerbera If russia Already Had the Affordable E95M Drone in 2022
