BARS (Russian: Боевой Армейский Резерв Страны - БАРС, Boyevoy Armeyskiy Rezerv Strany[1]) or simply the Combat Army Reserve is a Russian military reserve force implemented in 2015.[2][3]
History
editFormation
editThe Combat Army Reserves was created by the Ministry of Defence in 2015 as an analogous organization to the British Territorial Army or the United States Army Reserve with members being paid a salary per a three year or a one-and-a-half-year contract, and participating in at least a month per year of part-time training, with the prospect of being called to active duty in the event of war.[4] In 2019 a study by the RAND Corporation found that there were only 4,000 to 5,000 reservists in the whole of Russia.[5]
Russian invasion of Ukraine
editIn 2021, during the build-up towards the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, the BARS were the subject of a massive recruitment campaign titled "BARS-21" which Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated in several speeches hoped would bolster the force to 80,000 to 100,000 reservists. Eligible BARS reservists in the days before the invasion included soldiers younger than 42, junior officers younger than 47, colonels younger than 57, and other senior officials younger than 52.[5] When the war did break out, 20 BARS units consisting of an estimated 10,000 reservists, were sent to Ukraine to take part in the initial invasion. BARS reservists were, on paper, paid a much higher salary than Russian conscripts and were supposed receive a hefty pension for their service, however, upon the completion of their service, most reservists saw little to none of the promised money or bonuses. Most BARS soldiers are older veterans of the War in the Donbas, with many being members of the Union of Donbass Volunteers, and are from smaller rural settlements.[6] BARS units and Russian PMCs often overlap, with several BARS units being directly affiliated or even run by a PMC, leaving the units in a legal grey-area.[4]
On 24 July 2023, Vladimir Putin signed a law increasing the maximum age for all BARS members by five years. The legislation increased the maximum age of privates, sergeants, and warrant officers from 35 to 40, officers of middle ranks from 45 to 50, and high-ranking officers from 50 to 55.[7][8]
Cossack participation
editVarious Registered Cossacks of the Russian Federation were identified operating in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea in 2014 during the Russo-Ukrainian War. They are heavily involved in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine[9] where they are part of 18 ‘Cossack’ BARS (Combat Reserve Forces) battalions taking part in the invasion.[9][10][11] Per Ataman Nikolai Doluda, head of the All-Russian Cossack Society,"There are three battalions each from the Kuban and Terek hosts, two from Don, one from Orenburg, a Orenburg-Volga combined battalion, one from the Ussuriskiy host, one from the Zabaykalsky host, and one from the union of “Cossack” warriors from abroad"[10]
Units
editBattalions
edit- BARS-1: Kuban Cossacks[12][13]
- BARS-2: Yakuts, Saw combat around Kharkiv in 2022.[14] Absorbed the "Bootur-1" volunteer unit in May 2023.[15] Bootur-1's commander, Alexander Kolesov, would become deputy commander and receive the Hero of Russia for his role in the 2023 Belgorod Oblast incursions.[16]
- BARS-3:[17]
- BARS-4: Veterans who returned to Russia reported a lack of pay, denial of medical treatment, and a deletion of military records.[18]
- BARS-5:[17]
- BARS-6: 'Forstadt', Orenburg Cossacks.[19]
- BARS-7:[20]
- BARS-8:[21]
- BARS-9: 'Orel', Commander Rustam Ziganshin died in September 2021.[22] Affiliated with the Union of Donbass Volunteers.[17]
- BARS-10: Soldier from BARS-10 joined Wagner
- BARS-11:[21]
- BARS-12:[23]
- BARS-13: 'Russian Legion'[24] Commander Sergei Fomchenkov.[25] Affiliated with the Union of Donbass Volunteers, originally named 'Rurik'.[17]
- BARS-14 "Sarmat":[26]
- BARS-16 "Kuban"[27]
- BARS-18:[28]
- BARS-19:[21]
- BARS-20: 'Thunder', Affiliated with the Union of Donbass Volunteers.[17]
- BARS-21:[29]
- BARS-22 "Tiger" [30]
- BARS-23 "Orel":[31]
- BARS-25 "Anwar" [32]
- BARS-27 "Fakel"
- BARS-29: "Nevsky" Created October 2022 from an artillery detachment reformed into a BARS unit due lack of manpower.[33][21]
- BARS-32 "Pavel Sudoplatov": The Russian Ministry of Defense subordinated the Pavel Sudoplatov Battalion formed on the occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast to the 32nd BARS detachment.[34][21]
- BARS-33 "Vasily Margelov": First seen June 2023.[21]
- BARS-34 "Siberia"
- BARS-35 "Skif": First seen October 2023.[35]
- BARS-Kherson.[36]
- BARS-Crimea:[37]
- BARS-Kaskad "Waterfall":[38] According to the UK MoD intelligence created by Dmitry Sablin as a unit of drone operators headquartered far behind the front line for VIPs and the family members of Kremlin elite. This allows VIPs to serve in Ukraine with a reduced risk of personal injury compared to “frontline troops”. VIPs serving in Kaskad are provided with a security detail or bodyguards. On 16 April 2024, the husband of Russian influencer Yelena Blinovskaya, Alexei Blinovsky was serving with the unit.[39][40]
- BARS "Troy"
Higher formations
editSome of the BARS are associated with the All-Russian Cossack Society. The Cossack brigades “Don”, “Dnepr” and “Terek” are united into the Volunteer Assault Corps (DShK):[41] Three battalions (BARS-1, BARS-11 and BARS-16) are united into the Kuban Cossack brigade. Cossack brigade "Kuban" (BARS-3 and BARS-10) is part of the "Volunteer Shock Brigade" created by Dmitry Rogozin. BARS-6 (“Forstadt”) - Orenburg BARS-15 (“Ermak”) - Yekaterinburg BARS-18 (“Vympel”) - “Great Don Army” BARS-22 (“Tiger”) - Cossacks from Primorye BARS-35 (Skif) - part of the Terek brigade.[42][43]
References
edit- ^ ""Боевой Армейский Резерв Страны - БАРС"". www.temryuk.ru. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ "БАРС". bars2021.tilda.ws. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ Сосницкий, Владимир. "БАРС: военная служба на полставки". Еженедельник «ЗВЕЗДА» (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ a b Tenisheva, Anastasia (15 January 2023). "Glory Hunters or Gold Diggers? The Shadowy World of Russia's 'Volunteers' Fighting in Ukraine". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ a b Stepanenko, Kateryna; Kagan, Frederick W.; Brian, Babcock-Lumish. "Explainer on Russian Conscription, Reserve, and Mobilization". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Coalson, Robert (12 August 2022). "'We Were Nothing To Them': Russian Volunteer Reservists Return From War Against Ukraine Feeling Deceived". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Путин подписал указ о повышении предельного возраста пребывания в запасе". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Putin Signs Law Raising Age Of People In Military Reserve By Five Years". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ a b "The Kremlin Uses Registered Cossacks as a Means of Stealth Mobilization".
- ^ a b "Миссия казачества на Северном Кавказе – объединять патриотов и быть щитом России". 3 October 2023.
- ^ https://jamestown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/cossacks-in-BARS-640x482.jpeg.webp
- ^ "150 кубанских казаков пополнят отряды БАРС-16 и БАРС-1". smotrim.ru. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ Зуй, Василий. "Кубанские казаки-добровольцы пополнят отряды БАРС-16 и БАРС-1". kubantv.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ "Russia says it crushes cross-border incursion from Ukraine". Gulf News. Reuters. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Stepanenko, Kateryna; Bailey, Riley; Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Kagan, Fredrick W. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 28, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Hansen (28 April 2023). "Alexander Kolesov was the first of the Yakutians who participated in the SVO to become the Hero of Russia KXan 36 Daily News". eprimefeed.com. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Страх, ненависть и патриотизм. Как учат, отправляют на войну и обманывают российских добровольцев". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ Stepanenko, Kateryna; Hird, Karolina; Mappes, Grace; Kagan, Frederick W. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 11". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ ""Сразила вражеская мина": В Оренбурге простились с казаком батальона БАРС-6 "Форштадт" Эдуардом Юдачевым, погибшим в ходе СВО".
- ^ CDS (2023-07-01). "Russia's war on Ukraine. Daily Snapshot. 30.06.2023". CDS’s Substack. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ukraine Control Map". Google My Maps. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ ИВАНОВА, Кристина (2022-09-19). "На Украине погиб командир добровольческого отряда "БАРС-9" из Башкирии". Prufy.ru | Новости (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ CDS (2023-06-22). "Russia's war on Ukraine. Daily Snapshot. 22.06.2023". CDS’s Substack. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ Нахимов, Сергей (2022-11-16). ""Русский легион" БАРС-13: история, численность и боевой путь". AmalNews (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ "Как Сергей Фомченков создал добровольческий батальон БАРС-13". vesti.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ CDS (2023-08-22). "Russia's war on Ukraine. 22.08.2023". CDS’s Substack. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ "Бойцов БАРС-16 отряда Кубань торжественно проводили на Донбасс - KrasnodarMedia". krasnodarmedia.su (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ "🇷🇺⚡️Сводки ополчения Новороссии Z.O.V. (ДНР, ЛНР, Украина, Война)". Telegram. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ "🇷🇺⚡️Сводки ополчения Новороссии Z.O.V. (ДНР, ЛНР, Украина, Война)". Telegram. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ "Батальон Судоплатова 🇷🇺". Telegram. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ "WarGonzo". Telegram. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ Karolina Hird; Nicole Wolkov; Angelica Evans; Riley Bailey; Kateryna Stepanenko; George Barros (17 April 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 17, 2024". RBC-Ukraine. Critical Threats.
- ^ CDS (2023-09-07). "Russia's war on Ukraine. 07.09.2023". CDS’s Substack. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ CDS (2023-04-08). "CDS Daily brief (07.04.23) | CDS comments on key events". Центр оборонних стратегій (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ "Казачий батальон СКИФ". Telegram. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ CDS (2023-07-04). "Russia's war on Ukraine. Daily Snapshot. 04.07.2023". CDS’s Substack. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ CDS (2023-07-05). "Russia's war on Ukraine. Daily Snapshot. 05.07.2023". CDS’s Substack. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ "🇷🇺⚡️Сводки ополчения Новороссии Z.O.V. (ДНР, ЛНР, Украина, Война)". Telegram. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
- ^ MARIA KHOLINA (22 April 2024). "Special fake unit far from front created for Kremlin elite - UK intelligence". RBC-Ukraine.
- ^ Karolina Hird; Nicole Wolkov; Angelica Evans; Riley Bailey; Kateryna Stepanenko; George Barros (17 April 2024). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 17, 2024". RBC-Ukraine. Critical Threats.
- ^ https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-67454788
- ^ https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/04/28/vagnera-postavili-na-potok
- ^ https://notes.citeam.org/ru-dispatch-apr-24-25