The role and prospects of military groups in the regions of semi-cliques
In March of this year, Crimea became part of Russia. This land federation has no common borders with other Russian regions and therefore is considered an exclave (more precisely, a semi-exclave because it has access to the sea). Thus, since the spring of this year, the Russian Federation has had two semi-exclaves: Crimea and the Kaliningrad region. The connection between these regions and the "big land" is primarily provided aviation and shipping. In addition, in the future there should be a bridge that will connect the Taman Peninsula and the Crimea. The specific geographical location of the two constituent entities of the federation is the reason for the appearance of special risks. For example, in the event of hostilities, a potential adversary may attempt to block the Russian semi-exclaves and thereby impede or block the operation of formations based on their territory.
The strategic position of the Kaliningrad region should be considered very difficult. In the south, this region is bordered by Poland, and from the north and east is surrounded by Lithuania. From the west, the region is washed by the Baltic Sea. The Kaliningrad region is separated from the main territory of Russia by several hundred kilometers. Land routes of the region with the rest of the country (roads and railways) run through the territory of Lithuania. Air routes also cross the space of the Baltic states. Relatively independent of third countries is only the sea. In addition, it is necessary to remember about the existence of pipelines and other utilities used to power the half-clique.
The military and political situation in the Baltic states is a serious cause for concern. The fact is that both countries with which the Kaliningrad region borders are members of NATO. Thus, in the light of recent statements and trends, the Kaliningrad region is an outpost on the border with a potential enemy. The geographical position of the Russian half-exclave is such that in the event of a serious aggravation of relations or the beginning of an open confrontation, NATO will try to block it as soon as possible, leaving the Baltic fleet and parts of the Western Military District deployed in the Kaliningrad Region.
Fortunately for the military and the population of the Kaliningrad region, the beginning of the blockade (at least, complete: both land and sea) is hampered by several factors. Thus, international law prohibits the blockade of semi-cliques by the forces of the navy. In addition, we should not forget that the North Atlantic Alliance, despite all disagreements with Russia, is not interested in open conflict, which will solve the existing problems without obvious aggression. Finally, in the context of the beginning of a real conflict, it must be borne in mind that the Baltic countries do not have powerful armed forces. Due to this, the Russian army will be able in a relatively short time to organize a “road of life” on the territory of one of the countries dividing the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia. However, such a scenario is more likely a pure theory than an action plan.
It should be borne in mind that the Kaliningrad region is not only a region subject to the aggression of a potential enemy. In the existing strategy, it, being the westernmost region of the country, plays the role of a springboard and the location of various units. So, on the territory of the Kaliningrad region are located several units of the Baltic Fleet. These are brigades of surface ships, amphibious boats, ships for the protection of the water area, as well as the 336-I separate guards brigade of marines (Baltiysk); 79-I separate guards motorized rifle brigade (Gusev); 152-I Guards Brigade (Chernyakhovsk) and a number of other units.
In addition to the ship and coastal units of the Baltic Fleet in the Kaliningrad region, there are units of the air forces and ground forces. For example, in this region one of the regiments of the newest C-400 air defense system is deployed. If necessary, the grouping of troops on the territory of the half-cliques can be strengthened by transferring new formations from the Western Military District.
Several years ago, the Kaliningrad region began to appear in the newsregarding disputes over the deployment of anti-missile systems in Eastern Europe. Russian officials have repeatedly argued that Russia, in response to the emergence of missile defense systems in Poland or Romania, will deploy Iskander tactical missile systems near Kaliningrad, whose task will be to suppress the Euro-Atlantic missile defense system in the event of an armed conflict.
When using Iskander, the geographical position of the Russian half-clique becomes a real advantage, since it shifts the positions of the rocket engineers by several hundred kilometers to the west from the main Russian territory. When using various missiles, the Iskander complexes can hit targets at ranges up to 500 km, which allows us to “hold on sight” a solid part of Eastern Europe. As a result, Russian missile systems are becoming not only a means of countering missile defense systems, but also an instrument of regional policy.
As you can see, the Kaliningrad region has a specific geographic location, but the leadership of the armed forces are taking measures aimed at strengthening the grouping in a half-clique on the Baltic coast. Such measures, including the supply of new weapons and equipment, are designed to protect the most western region of Russia and strengthen its presence in the Baltic. In the future, it is required to continue the development of the grouping of troops in the Kaliningrad region, since special tasks are assigned to it.
The second Russian semi-cliques - Crimea. For more than two decades, the peninsula was part of a neighboring state, but after certain events decided to join Russia. Historically, the main facilities of the Black Sea Fleet were located in the Crimea. In recent decades, Russia has leased from Ukraine a number of facilities on which our military personnel served. Now Crimea has moved to Russia and it has begun to engage in the development of its military infrastructure.
In mid-August, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about the development of a program for the creation and development of a military group. At the time of the application, the program was drafted and approved in all instances, in addition, under it appeared the signature of the head of state. Then, in August, the president revealed some details of the program.
Like the Kaliningrad region, Crimea differs from other Russian regions in its unusual geographical position. The peninsula is connected to the rest of the land by the narrow Perekopsky isthmus, and the rest of its borders are washed by the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. Before the deterioration of Russian-Ukrainian relations, the message of Russia and the Crimea was carried out through Ukrainian territory and the Perekop Isthmus, as well as with the help of ferries crossing the Kerch Strait. As a result of events in the international arena, land routes to the Crimea were actually blocked. For this reason, ferries are currently the main means of transporting passengers and cargo. There is air traffic.
To solve the transport problem, in the next few years it is planned to build a bridge across the Kerch Strait, which will greatly simplify and speed up the route to the Crimea, as well as relieve the ports. In addition, it is planned to develop transport infrastructure on the peninsula, including those used by civil aviation. The result of all these works should be the creation of full-fledged communication lines between the Crimea and the rest of Russia, which will allow optimizing not only civil, but also military logistics.
In the course of the approved program for the creation and development of a military group in Crimea, it is planned to carry out a number of measures to upgrade the infrastructure and strengthen the existing group of troops. First of all, it is proposed to repair and modernize the facilities of the navy in Sevastopol. At the same time, however, repair and construction in Sevastopol will not affect the work in Novorossiysk. The Novorossiysk base of the Black Sea Fleet will be completed in accordance with current plans. The only change in plans for a base in Novorossiysk is the timing adjustment. 23 September V.Putin declared that the base would be completed not by 2020, but by 2016.
Plans to continue the construction of the Novorossiysk base with simultaneous restoration of facilities in Sevastopol clearly show what methods are planned to build and develop the grouping of troops in the Crimea. It is supposed to implement already existing plans, and also to work within the framework of new projects. For example, on September 17, the new submarine B-261 “Novorossiysk” of the 636.3 “Varshavyanka” project was accepted into the Black Sea Fleet. She is the first of the six ships previously ordered for the Black Sea Fleet. In addition to the diesel-electric submarines Novorossiysk, two Varshavyanka have already been launched, another one is on the stocks. In the near future, the construction of the fifth and sixth submarine series will begin.
Over the next few years, several Crimean airfields will be restored and upgraded. They will serve as fighters and attack aircraft of several types. In addition, Tu-22М3 bombers will be transferred to the Crimea in the future. It will take about two years to update the naval aviation stationed on the peninsula-half-cliques. The aviation group being created will protect the southern borders of the country and the Crimea, and long-range bombers will be able to control the entire Black Sea region and part of the Eastern Mediterranean.
The deployment of troops in the Crimea is intended to solve two strategic tasks. First: the protection of the peninsula and the borders of the state, passing through the Black Sea. For example, the simultaneous deployment of Black Sea Fleet compounds both in the Crimea and in Novorossiysk will help not only to strengthen it, but also provide it with greater flexibility of application. The second task of the Crimean grouping of troops is to ensure the presence of the Russian armed forces in certain regions. The Black Sea Fleet and a part of the Mediterranean are in the zone of responsibility of the Black Sea Fleet. Planned for the relocation of the bombers will be able to control part of the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as the entire water area of the Black Sea. Ships of the Black Sea Fleet, in turn, can operate in any area of the Mediterranean Sea. In the future, missile complexes may be sent to the Crimea, which will increase the strike potential of the military group.
The western direction is traditionally regarded as the most dangerous. In the current situation, the Kaliningrad region and the Crimea are outposts of the Russian armed forces in the western direction. The military and political leadership of the country understands this and plans to modernize the Crimean formations, and also gradually increases the potential of the units serving in Kaliningrad. The geographic features of the semi-cliques regions are associated with certain difficulties and impose certain restrictions on the implementation of existing plans, but their strategic role leaves no other choice. Groupings of troops in the Crimea and in the Kaliningrad region should be developed and updated.
On the materials of the sites:
http://ria.ru/
http://gazeta.ru/
http://mil.ru/
http://svpressa.ru/
http://itar-tass.com/
http://lenta.ru/
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