These fully of (still unconfirmed) rumors appear to indicate that a very serious bureaucratic battle is taking place behind the scenes and that the recent leaks in the Russian media are part of a PR strategy used by some (Shamanov? Putin?) to score political points at the expense of their political opponents (Medvedev? Serdiukov?)
——-
o 108th Airborne Regiment
o 247th Airborne Regiment (Stavropol)
o 1141st Artillery Regiment (Anapa, Krasnodar Krai)
o 3rd Air Defense Regiment
o 162nd Reconnaissance Company
o 309th Engineering Company (Temryuk, Krasnodar Krai)
o 743rd Communications Battalion
o 6th Maintenance Battalion
o 1681st Logistics Battalion
o 23rd Airborne Regiment
o 104th Airborne Regiment
o 234th Airborne Regiment
o 1140th Artillery Regiment
o 4th Air Defense Regiment
o 656th Engineering Battalion
o 728th Communications Battalion
o 7th Maintenance Battalion
o 1682nd Logistics Battalion
o 217th Airborne Regiment
o 331st Airborne Regiment (Kostroma)
o 1065th Artillery Regiment (Kostroma)
o 5th Air Defense Battalion
o 661st Engineering Battalion
o 674th Communications Battalion
o 15th Maintenance Battalion
o 1683rd Logistics Battalion
o 51st Airborne Regiment
o 137th Airborne Regiment (Ryazan)
o 1182nd Artillery Regiment (Naro-Fominsk, Moscow Oblast)
o 107th Air Defense Regiment (Naro-Fominsk, Moscow Oblast)
o 173rd Reconnaissance Company
o 388th Engineering Battalion (Plavsk, Tula Oblast)
o 731st Communications Battalion
o 1060th Logistics Battalion
o 43rd Repair Battalion, (Plavsk, Tula Oblast)
* 3rd Guards Independent Special Operations Brigade – Roshinskiy, Samara Oblast;
* 10th (Mountain) Independent Special Operations Brigade – Molkino, Krasnodar Krai; activated July 1, 2003
* 14th Independent Special Operations Brigade – Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai;
* 16th Detached Special Operations Brigade – formerly Teplyi Stan, suburb of Moscow, now Chuchkovo.
* 22nd Guards Independent Special Operations Brigade – Kovalevka, Rostov Oblast
* 24th Independent Special Operations Brigade – Kyakhta.
Yes, I read about it before:
http://www.militaryparitet.com/teletype/data/ic_teletype/8788/
Anyway, later it appeared this one:
http://www.militaryparitet.com/teletype/data/ic_teletype/8790/
“The Russian government says that information about dismissal of Serdyukov is nonsense”.
Perhaps you are right and he will leave, but so far, there is nothing official.
@Carlo: yes, I just saw the denial too (in an article by Pavel Felengauer – whom I despise – posted by the Jamestown Foundation – whom I also despise :-)
But he was referring to Interfax, whom at least I do not despise, LOL!
Seriously, I am not surprised that they would deny it (whoever “they” are). As I said, “they” need to save face so a “promotion” is what I expect for Serdiukov.
Say, what is your take on General Nikolai Makarov?
As best I can established, he managed to never participate in a single battle in his entire career. He did spend some amazingly SHORT time in Tajikistan before being sent to Kaliningrad.
On the plus side, he did grow through all the levels of the military commanding everything from a platoon to a Military District. But how he managed to avoid ever being drawn into any kind of real battle just bugs me I guess. Mind you, though I have been close to some firefights, I never have been in a real battle either, but I am not Chief of Staff either :-)
There are plenty of combat hardened officers in Russia, why pick a guy without any combat experience?!
But then, if he becomes Defense Minister, somebody else will become Chief of Staff, hopefully a real battle officer this time. This might not be a bad combination?
Anyway – you have your contacts and sources. Could you please try to check for me whether I am correct in not finding a single instance of Makarov being in a battle or, even better, an explanation of HOW he managed to avoid it and WHO is behind him?
Obrigado!
The Saker
Well, I am not a specialist on Russian military, I just have a some curiosity on it. I mostly feel interested in the Russian armed forces as the only military force strong enough to oppose the US.
I don’t know anything about Makarov, to tell you the truth. My main source for Russian military news is militaryparitet.com (they are reliable and with good sources inside the industry, as they could forecast the exact day PAK FA would make its first flight). But, it is a site mostly of news, and not so much of analysis. But in their forum (which I never joined) perhaps there are discussions on this.
According to Wikipedia (both in English and Russian), Makarov rose to Chief of Staff thanks to no one else than Serdyukov:
“Деятельность Николая Макарова на посту начальника Генштаба ВС РФ подвергается серьёзной критике за соглашательство с политикой министра обороны А.Э.Сердюкова по радикальной “оптимизации” российских вооруженных сил, больше напоминающей целенаправленный развал.”
Anyone see this?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8083894/Rare-anti-Putin-rally-held-in-Moscow.html
“Rare anti-Putin rally held in Moscow
A rare anti-Vladimir Putin rally has been held in central Moscow, demanding the Russian prime minister’s resignation amid signs he is planning to take back his old job as president…”
It’s all starting to make sense. Putin-Medvedev power struggle and the teddy bear is the west’s boy.
I hope Putin anticipated this and has a few Judo moves up his sleeves.