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How Many Military Bases Does Russia Have Overseas?

Written by Everett Bledsoe / Fact checked by Brain Bartell

how many military bases does russia have

Are you interested in learning about Russian Army bases? Apart from domestic ones, perhaps you may want to dive into the details of bases overseas. In that case, you can learn everything in this article here. Even though we cannot give you information on Russian secret military bases, we can cover all the public (known) ones in:

  • Kyrgyzstan

Kant Air Base

  • Georgia

The 7th Military Base in Abkhazia

The 4th Military Base in South Ossetia

  • Armenia

The 102nd Order of Alexander Nevsky Military Base

The 3524th airbase

  • Belarus

The Volga-type Hantsavihy Radar Station

The 474th Independent Radio-Technical Unit in Baranovichi

the Vileyka VLF Transmitter and 43rd Communications Center of the Russian Navy

The Combat Aircraft Base in Babruysk

  • Kazakhstan

The 10th State Test Site of Russia’s Ministry of Defense

The Balkhash Radar Station

The Baikonur Cosmodrome

The 929th Valery Pavlovich Chkalov State Test Flight Center

  • Tajikistan

The 201st Military Base

The Okno Optical Electronic System

The Ayni Airbase

  • Syria

Hmeimim Airbase

The 720th Logistics Support Point of the Russian Navy in Tartus

  • Transnistria

Peacekeeping Force in Transnistria

  • Vietnam

Access to the Cam Ranh Military Port

  • Ukraine

The Sevastopol Naval Base

So, we have started with “How many military bases does Russia have overseas?”And the answer is about 20. Learn more as you read!

Russian Military Bases Around the World

Here is a map of current and planned Russian military bases:

russian-army-base

1. In Kyrgyzstan

In 2003, Russia signed an agreement with Kyrgyzstan to base Russian Air Force units at the Kant Air Base which was a former Soviet base, but since 1992, has been under Kyrgyzstan’s control. This agreement will allow Russian forces to stay in Kyrgyzstan until 2027.

2. In Georgia

Russia established the 7th military base in Abkhazia and the 4th military base in South Ossetia after the Russian-Georgian War in 2008. The 7th base and 4th base are directly subordinate to the command of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces.

Russia’s presence is projected by anti-aircraft missile batteries that range over the Georgian territory. In addition, Russia expanded its base in Gudauta.

In 2010, it signed an agreement with Abkhazia to operate the base in Gudauta for another 49 years (plus, a potential extension).

They also have a military airport on the Caucasus southern side with at least 4 planes. About 100 soldiers are stationed in Otobaya village in the Gali region close to Georgia, and at the port of Ochamchire, there are Russian fast patrol boats.

3. In Armenia

There is the 102nd Order of Alexander Nevsky military base in the Southern military district. It is a part of the Russian Forces in Transcaucasia group and the United Forces Group of Russia and Armenia.

The base is meant to ensure Armenia’s security as well as Russia’s as members of the CSTO. At present, it is in constant combat readiness status.

Within the base, there is a medical unit that is a branch of the 1602nd Russian military clinic hospital. In addition, the base has two garrisons; the headquarters is in Gyumri and the other is in Yerevan.

There are troops in the base, including a motorized infantry battalion, reconnaissance, engineering and sapper, logistic, radio-technical, and anti-tank, anti-aircraft, self-propelled artillery and missile artillery squadrons.

Above the base, in the airspace, there is the 988th anti-aircraft rocket regiment. A vital component of the regiment is the 3524th airbase, which was built in 1994. Said airbase is stationed at the Erebuni Airport, close to Yerevan. The fleet there comprises 18 MIG-29 fighters, 14 MI-24P, MI-8MT helicopters, and aerial vehicles (unmanned).

Russian presence in Armenia is also indicated by Russian border guards (subordinate to Russia’s Federal Security Service) along Armenia’s border with Turkey and with Iran. There are up to 4,500 soldiers, which are arranged into 4 divisions in Artashar, Armavir, Gyumri, and Meghri.

4. In Belarus

The Volga-type Hantsavihy radar station and the 474th Independent Radio-Technical unit in Baranovichi, are both Russia’s.

The radar station is in the Hantsavihy village (as said in its name), which is at a distance of 48 kilometers from Baranovichy. It was built in 1982 to counteract the Pershing II missiles. But it was interrupted by the U.S.S.R dissolution in 1991. In 1993, it reopened and in 2002, started operating.

There is an early warning radar with a range covering Europe, the Sea of Azov, and parts of the Black Sea that is a part of Russia’s missile attack warning system and Russian space forces system. The radar’s tasks are:

around-the-world

Russian influence in Belarus is also seen through the Vileyka VLF transmitter and 43rd Communications Center of the Russian Navy.

The 650-hectares radio station is 10 km from the center of the Minsk Oblast and has operated since 1964. It retransmits signals sent between the WMF central communication node and Russian submarines that are in the operating range.

The Combat Aircraft Base in Babruysk is Russia’s third military base in Belarus. It is meant to strengthen the security of the Union States and bring the two countries together.

They carry out joint exercises and training, exchange info, and coordinate actions for specific situations. Pilots are also allowed to cross the common border without special permits.

5. In Kazakhstan

There is the Sary Shagan anti-ballistic missile testing range that serves as a testing site for weapons, such as anti-aircraft weapons, anti-missile weapons, and armaments. Aside from that, it houses research and development of domestic ballistic missiles.

Officially, it is referred to as the 10th State Test Site of Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

This range is in the desert highland of Betpakdala in Karaganda and Jambyl Oblast, which is northwest of Lake Balkhash. Its construction began in 1956 and operations commenced in 1996.

There is also the Balkhash radar station (Sary Shagan radar node and Balkhash-9), which is Russia’s 49th Independent Radio-Technical unit for space reconnaissance. It is a Dnieper-type earning warning radar, near the city of Gulshan, on the west coast of Lake Balkhash,

Russia takes care of the operation, maintenance, and infrastructure development expenses. It trains the Kazakhstan command and staff for joint work, and updates on potential air/ missile threats.

There is also the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which was previously a testing ground for the Soviet ICBM. But Russia has had an exclusive lease on it since 1994. There are rocket launchers, missile testing grounds, assembly facilities, a nitrogen and oxygen plant, command and control centers, and logistic groups.

The 929th Valery Pavlovich Chkalov State Test Flight Center, Taysoygan is an aviation research institution of the Russian Air Force. It is where military aviation equipment and weapons are tested.

6. In Tajikistan

The Russian 201st Military Base started operating in October 2004, in Dushanbe. The base is leased for 49 years. It is seen as a guarantee of Tajikistan’s stability and an economic stimulator.

In Tajikistan, Russia also has the Okno Optical Electronic System, which tracks satellite movements. It is 2,200 meters above sea level in the Pamir mountain range. Okno is a part of the Russian airspace control system. It has been leased by Russia since 2004.

Russia carries out border control for the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, and the Ayni Airbase is another installation contributing to the Russian air force presence in Tajikistan.

7. In Syria

Russia is currently using Syria’s airbase Hmeimim Airbase, close to the Latakia Airport, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Hmeimim was the main base used by Russian troops partaking in the war in Syria. Now, it is on standby, though, also a regular target of Syrian fighter terrorist attacks.

The 720th Logistics Support Point of the Russian Navy in Tartus is a port on the Mediterranean Sea coast, about 25 kilometers north of the Syria-Lebanon border. It is in the 63rd Naval Brigade of the Syrian Arab Republic territory.

Most recently, Russian and Syrian troops conducted joint exercises and maneuvers using the Tartus port to learn to disarm UAVs quickly and improve the fight against sabotage troops.

8. In Transnistria

A group of ~1,500 Russian soldiers, formed on the basis of the former 14th Army, remain in Transnistria to control stockpiles of Soviet weapons.

From the start of the 1990s, peace forces composed of about 400 Russian soldiers have been stationed in Transnistria. They are accompanied by two motorized battalions, a security battalion, a helicopter unit, and an air missile defense regiment.

9. In Vietnam

Russia is granted special access to the Cam Ranh military port due to its relations with the Vietnamese navy. Russia uses Cam Ranh Bay as a service and repair base for ships and refueling Russian aviation.

10. In Ukraine

The Sevastopol Naval Base is Russia’s main base for the Navy Black Sea Fleet. It is on the site of a historic naval base in 1783. In 1997, Russia signed a 20-year lease agreement with Ukraine. In April 2010, Russia signed another agreement to extend the presence of Russian troops in Crimea until 2042.

The Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, performs the defense functions of the country, protects the economic zones against illegal crossings, and guarantees shipping safety.

11. In Africa

Russia maintains good relations with African countries. It is probable that Russia will establish its bases in Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Egypt, Eritrea, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe in the future.

FAQs

russian-military-bases

Does Russia have a base in Cuba?

The Soviet Union previously had a military presence in Cuba, but its facilities were closed after the Soviet collapse. In 2017 there were reports that Russia wanted to reopen bases in Cuba, but nothing has been confirmed.

How Are The Number of Russian Bases Compared to the U.S?

Russia has much fewer bases compared to the U.S. The U.S has a few hundred bases!

Conclusion

Now you know the answer to, “How many military bases does Russia have overseas?” and the details of all the bases.

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