New Cold War: Russia stocks-up on Vehicles for Naval Ground Forces

Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation, Southern Military District, video posted 12MAY2021, 152mm self propelled artillery in North Ossetia:

BMP-3 seen in this year’s Victory Day Parade.

Since the beginning of the year, Russia has been upgrading its naval land forces (army corps-marines) with new armored vehicles, including the latest BMP-3. On 11MAY2021, more than 30 BMP-3s were delivered to the new mechanized infantry division of the Baltic Fleet, stationed in Kaliningrad.

Quick video, posted 29MAR2021, of assembly of Russia’s current armored vehicles:

In December 2020, it was announced that Russian Baltic Fleet forces would be bolstered due to NATO’s build-up of forces near Kaliningrad, including a new mechanized infantry division: “In response to this threat, the Armed Forces’ command has to take measures in response. As one of such measures, a full-strength motorized infantry division will be formed to make part of the Baltic Fleet’s army corps. The new formation will comprise motor rifle and artillery regiments and a separate tank regiment.”-Admiral Alexander Nosatov

TASS photo by Vitaly Nevar.

The December 2020 announcement stated that several new units within the Baltic Fleet would be created in 2021. On 13MAY2021, its was announced that the new 18th army corps division, of the 79th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, would be ready by the end of the year. It was also revealed that the expansion and upgrade of the Baltic Fleet is based on what was observed during recent NATO wargames.

TASS photo by Valery Matytsin.

Expansion of the Baltic Fleet’s army corps was also conducted during 2019-20.

In April 2021, forty new BMP-3s were delivered to Russia’s Pacific Fleet army corps. Here’s video of those BMP-3s being off-loaded in Primorye:

Eastern Military District photo.

On top of that, additional BTR-82A armored cars and T-80BV tanks had been delivered.

Southern Military District photo.

Also in April 2021, the Black Sea Fleet conducted launchings of Zvezda Kh-35 ‘Bal’ anti-ship missiles from Crimea.

Southern Military District photo.

In Crimea, on 24MAR2021, the Black Sea Fleet held wargames for its army corps.

Northern Fleet photo.

Also, at the beginning of March 2021, the Northern Fleet held wargames in the Russian Arctic, specifically to increase proficiency of S-400 anti-aircraft crews. Here’s video from April 2021 of a S-400 Pantsir-S demonstration to foreign military officials:

Southern Military District photo.

In January and February 2021, the Caspian Flotilla conducted training for its army corps (marines) officially in preparation for the International Army Games. This included BTR-82A armored cars.

Northern Fleet photo.

Also in February 2021, the Northern Fleet conducted arctic training in the Pechengsky district of the Murmansk region, using Aleut tracked ‘snow-cats’.