ISW: Russia forming new army in Northern Fleet

Russia is reportedly forming a new combined arms army as part of the Northern Fleet, likely in order to posture its preparedness against NATO. 

Izvestia suggested that the 14th Army Corps‘ 200th and 80th Brigades will be reorganized into a division under the new combined arms army, Calber.Az reports, citing the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Russian army corps before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine existed only within fleets and largely performed the same functions as combined arms armies.

The reported decision to form a new combined arms army is thus likely posturing ahead of the NATO summit on July 11-12.

In this way, the Russian authorities want to demonstrate a military response to Finland's entry into the alliance. Creating an army by itself would not increase Russia's military capabilities, and it is unclear where the Russian military leadership could find the personnel and equipment that would be needed to create the material difference.

Key Takeaways:

• Ukrainian troops continued counter-offensive operations in at least four sectors of the front and moved forward on July 4.
• The report on the reorganization of Russian internal security agencies suggests that the Kremlin has not yet concluded that it has effectively neutralized the threats of future armed insurgencies.
• Russian Defence Ministry stated that on July 4, Ukrainian troops attacked the Moscow region and New Moscow.
• Russian troops delivered limited ground strikes along the Kupyansk-Svatovo-Kremennaya line and south of Kremennaya.
• Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces carried out limited ground attacks along the Kupyansk-Svatovo-Kremennaya line.
• Russian and Ukrainian troops stepped up ground attacks in the Bakhmut area.
• Russian troops also continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk line.
• Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces continued counter-offensive operations in the Orikhiv region of the Zaporizhzhia region.
• The Russian authorities continue to deport Ukrainian children to Russia under the pretext of providing pediatric care.