In order to strengthen its control over the Arctic region and Arctic shipping lanes, Russia has upgraded the formation of specialized military zones. This move shows the prominent importance given to the Arctic in today’s Russian military strategy. It will be interesting to see how Russia interacts with China on Arctic affairs in the future.
Northern Fleet to be upgraded to a fifth military region next year
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a special order on Dec. 21 that will upgrade Russia’s Northern Fleet to a separate military region as of Jan. 1 next year. After Russia’s military reform more than 10 years ago, there are now four military regions – “Eastern”, “Western”, “Southern” and “Central “The Northern Fleet will thus become the new fifth largest military region.
The defense of the Komi Republic, Nenets Autonomous District, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Oblast, which used to be the responsibility of the “Western” Military District, will also be transferred to the Northern Fleet. Large parts of these four Russian regions are located in the Arctic Circle.
Russian media and military analysts believe that the upgrade of the Northern Fleet to a fifth military region indicates that the Arctic is becoming a priority in Russia’s military strategy. The defense of the Northern Fleet, the new fifth military region, is focused on the Arctic and its shipping lanes.
Among Russia’s four major military regions, the “Eastern” military region is focused on China, with the exception of the Pacific Fleet, which is focused on the U.S., Japanese and Chinese navies. The “Central” military region of the Russian Army is aimed at Central Asia. The “Southern” military region is responsible for the South and North Caucasus regions and Ukraine. The “Western” military region is primarily directed at NATO and Ukraine.
The Northern Fleet Command is located in the Arctic Circle, not far from Murmansk, on the Kra Peninsula and in the Barents Sea in the military port city of North Morsk. Among the four major naval fleets of the former Soviet Union and Russia, the Northern Fleet has traditionally been the most powerful and strongest. During the Cold War era, the Soviet Northern Fleet served as a front-line force against U.S. and NATO forces primarily in Arctic waters, as well as in the North Atlantic.
Russia Continues to Strengthen Arctic Military Deployment
The Northern Fleet used to be a purely naval force under the jurisdiction of the “Western” Military District of the Russian Army. However, as the game in the Arctic intensified, the Russian leadership decided in 2014 to separate the Northern Fleet from the “Western” military region and set up a special Joint Strategic Command for the Northern Fleet.
At the same time, Russia has been increasing its military investment in the Arctic. Russia is currently building a large number of icebreakers, including nuclear and conventionally powered ones, and is building military icebreakers specifically for the Northern Fleet. Airfields, barracks, and military bases in the Arctic that were abandoned after the collapse of the Soviet Union have not only been restored, but new Arctic military infrastructure has been built. A variety of weapons and equipment developed specifically for the Arctic region are being put into service with the Northern Fleet.
S-400 air defense missiles, other advanced shore-based missiles, radar reconnaissance and early warning systems, and other weapons and equipment are now deployed in the Arctic.
In addition to the traditional naval surface ships and submarines, today’s Northern Fleet now commands a large number of Army and Air Force and air defense forces stationed in the Arctic, including the Army’s 14th Army and the Air Force’s 45th Army. A large number of the Northern Fleet’s military bases are thus located along the Arctic Ocean coast and on islands along the route.
Arctic combat units engage in special training
In the past, the Northern Fleet used to have its own Marine Corps and coast guard forces. In recent years, however, the Russian Army has transferred a large number of troops from the “Central” and “Western” military districts to the command of the Northern Fleet and placed them under its command in the Arctic. Two brigades of the 14th Army under the Northern Fleet are Arctic combat units, especially equipped with various types of sleds, T-80BVM main battle tanks that can start and operate in severe cold and cryogenic conditions, as well as artillery and anti-aircraft missiles mounted on tracked tractors.
The Russian Army has also developed special uniforms for Arctic combat troops that not only protect against the cold, but also prevent ice and water immersion. Arctic combat troops are specially trained for polar operations, including skiing, using dog and deer sleds, constructing fortifications, shelters and camps in the snow, etc.
In recent years, the Northern Fleet has held various annual military exercises in the Arctic, including crossing the Arctic shipping lanes. 2016’s two-month military exercise was the largest of its kind. The exercises assumed a massive missile and air attack on the Arctic, as well as the capture and landing of islands in the Arctic Ocean by a hypothetical enemy and a counterattack by the Northern Fleet.
Russian media said the Kremlin leadership apparently believes the time is ripe for the Northern Fleet to be upgraded to an independent fifth military region after the post-2014 integration and preparation of the services.
Favorable to Arctic military mobilization and waterway construction
Former Northern Fleet Commander Popov, now retired, told Russian media that the upgrade of the Northern Fleet to a fifth military region would be very beneficial for Russia’s military mobilization on the ground, recruitment, coordination with local governments and, in particular, the construction and development of infrastructure for the Arctic shipping lanes. He argued that the Northern Fleet has long been performing the duties of the Fifth Military Region. Putin’s order only formalizes and legalizes the work the Northern Fleet is doing.
Military commentator Cai Gonok said that after Russia adopted a new version of its naval doctrine a few years ago, it has strengthened its operations in the Arctic region in particular, with the Northern Fleet becoming a top priority. In addition to strengthening military strength and other hardware, more attention has been paid to the construction of living and supply facilities for Russian military bases in the Arctic.
ACT-1,彩冈诺克: “One of the most important issues is to ensure that the Northern Fleet servicemen can enjoy normal infrastructure and social services under special conditions in the polar regions.”
Russia wants to monopolize the Arctic how does China react?
Russia also passed special regulations a few years ago that require foreign ships passing through the Arctic shipping lanes to notify Russia in advance and use Russian pilots, otherwise Russia will block and possibly even detain or destroy foreign ships.
A white paper on China’s Arctic policy, which was launched in 2018, refers to Beijing’s active involvement in Arctic affairs and specifically highlights China as a near-Arctic country. China’s growing interest in the Arctic, as well as its activities in the region, have raised alarms in many countries, including Russia. In recent years, Chinese cargo ships have also made greater use of Arctic shipping lanes. It will be interesting to see how China reacts to Russia’s attempts to monopolize the Arctic and its shipping lanes.
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