18th Combined Arms Army

Russian Ground Forces formation
18th Combined Arms Army
18-я общевойсковая армия
emblem
Great emblem
ActiveAugust 2023–present
Country Russia (2023–present)
Branch Russian Ground Forces (2023–present)
TypeCombined Arms
SizeArmy
Part ofSouthern Military District
Garrison/HQCrimea
EngagementsRussian invasion of Ukraine
  • 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive
Commanders
Current
commander		Lieutenant General Andrey Seritsky
Military unit

The 18th Combined Arms Army (18th CAA) is a field army of the Russian Ground Forces.[1]

History

Formed in occupied Crimea in August 2023 as part of the Southern Military District, Oleg Marzoev, an officer in the 58th Guards Combined Arms Army, reported on August 18 that the 18th CAA was formed "on the basis of" the 22nd Army Corps.[1] This has come as part of a larger move by the Russian Ministry of Defense to strip ground units away from the Russian Navy, in this case the Black Sea Fleet.[1] Marzoev claimed that at the time of its formation the 18th CAA was "one of the largest" units in the Russian army and that the unit was being deployed to southern Kherson Oblast as part of defense against the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive.[2][3][1] The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense assessed that the creation and transfer of the 18th CAA was to free up more experienced Russian units, namely Russian Airborne Forces, to other, more active, sections of the front.[4][5]

Deployment

Russian sources have reported that the unit has engaged Ukrainian forces near Kozachi Laheri in November 2023.[1][6]

Current structure

  • 70th Motor Rifle Division[1]
    • 24th Motor Rifle Regiment [7]
    • 26th Motor Rifle Regiment [7]
    • 28th Motor Rifle Regiment[1]
    • 17th Tank Regiment [7]
    • 81st Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment [7]
  • 22nd Army Corps[1]
  • 40th Army Corps[1]
    • 144th Motor Rifle Brigade[1]
    • 47th Motor Rifle Division[1]
  • 74th Artillery Brigade [7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hird, Karolina. "Russia's Military Restructuring and Expansion Hindered by the Ukraine War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Russia creating new military formation in Ukraine's south – UK intel". ukrinform. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. ^ Tril, Maria. "ISW: Russia likely faces trouble redeploying troops to Kherson front". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Russia tries to bring in experienced forces for battles in key areas – UK intelligence". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Russia creating new military formation in Ukraine in face of wartime realities: UK". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  6. ^ Shcherbak, Alla. "Ukrainian forces make strategic advances in Kherson Oblast, ISW reports". The New Voice of Ukraine. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e "RUSSIAN MILITARY TRANSFORMATION TRACKER, ISSUE 8: 16 JUNE-15 DECEMBER 2023". 22 December 2023.