Russia pulls troops from Nagorno-Karabakh, eyeing Ukraine redeployment
The spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that on April 17, 2024, the Russian peacekeeping forces started their withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh. It's speculated that they might be redeployed to Ukraine. This article delves into the size of the contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh and the equipment at their disposal.
Several photos and videos validating Russian forces' movement have surfaced on social media. In the meantime, an article by Politico suggested that Moscow intended to maintain its forces in Nagorno-Karabakh until 2025. However, recent developments prompted a reevaluation of these plans.
Russians withdraw troops from Nagorno-Karabakh
The withdrawal primarily relates to Azerbaijan's offensive in 2023. The Russian forces' inactivity allowed Azerbaijan to quickly seize control of the disputed enclave, leading its authorities to declare the end of its quasi-state status starting January 1, 2024. Consequently, the Russian contingent ceased to be influential, possibly finding relevance elsewhere, as per Politico, in Ukraine.
This move might be seen as a demonstration of Russia's vulnerability to some extent. The contingent stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh was reportedly modest and not well-equipped.
It consisted of about 2,000 soldiers who, besides small arms, had access to 90 armored personnel carriers and 380 vehicles and special equipment units. The Russian propaganda machinery might have noted this information, but the reality evidenced online, especially the convoys of military vehicles and BTR family armored personnel carriers, is hard to conceal.
The discussion especially concerns models from the BTR-80 family, which started production in 1984. The latest vehicles identified in the footage are BTR-82s, introduced to the Russian army in 2011.
The BTR-82 employs an 8-wheeled chassis and is powered by Kamaz 740.14-300 engines, delivering 300 HP. It can reach speeds up to 62 mph and can carry a crew of up to 10 people. These armored personnel carriers are equipped with a rapid-fire 2A72 30 mm cannon and a 7.62 mm caliber machine gun.
The forces in Nagorno-Karabakh also likely had a few post-Soviet infantry fighting vehicles (either BMP-1 or BMP-2) in their possession, but contrary to some claims, they did not have tanks.
Another sign of Russian vulnerability?
The decision to redirect the forces stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh to Ukraine aligns with the strategies previously seen by the Russian authorities.
Reports have emerged about the relocation of soldiers and equipment from various regions of Russia, including the Far East, to the frontlines in Ukraine. The reallocation of S-300V4 anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems from the Kuril Islands to Ukraine has caught significant attention. Older tanks, some even 60-year-olds, are more frequently deployed to the front.
