Abkhazian Armed Forces

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The Abkhazian Armed Forces (Template:Langx; Template:Langx) are the military forces of Abkhazia.[notes 1] The forces were officially created on 12 October 1992, after the outbreak of the 1992–1993 war with Georgia.[1] The basis of the armed forces was formed by the ethnic Abkhaz National Guard. The Abkhaz military is primarily a ground force but includes small sea and air units. According to the authorities of the Republic of Abkhazia, the Abkhazian Land Forces are organised along the Swiss model – in time of peace they have personnel of 3,000 to 5,000 and in case of war further 40–50,000[2] reservists are called out. Georgia regards the Abkhaz armed forces as "unlawful military formations" and accuses Russia of supplying and training the Abkhaz troops.

History

The Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Abkhazian armed forces were officially created on 12 October 1992, after the outbreak of the 1992–1993 war with Georgia.[1] The basis of the armed forces was formed by the ethnic Abkhaz National Guard created earlier in 1992 prior to the outbreak of the war. It also takes its roots from the Separate Regiment of Internal Troops, which was disbanded in 1991.[3] During the war, the Abkhazian forces – with the critical support from the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus, Cossack volunteers and Russian regular military units[4][5] stationed in or near Abkhazia – succeeded in defeating the Georgian troops; Georgians, Armenians, Greeks, Russians and Abkhaz were killed.[6] Roughly 200,000 to 250,000 Georgian civilians became Internally displaced persons (IDPs).[7][8][9][10] Most of the military's weapons come from the Russian airborne division base in Gudauta,[11][12] while others were captured from Georgian forces.

Georgia regards the Abkhaz armed forces as "unlawful military formations" and accuses Russia of supplying and training the Abkhaz troops, partly in exchange for Abkhaz land or hotels. The Abkhaz deny this, saying they bought what they have on the free market except for five sea cutters received from Russia and speedboats from the Abkhaz diaspora in Greece.[13] In March 2005, then Abkhazian defence minister Sultan Sosnaliev said that the senior and middle-ranking officers in the Abkhaz army are regularly sent to Russia for 2–3 month training courses within the framework of the Russia's "Vystrel" (Shot) program.[14]

Sosnaliev himself is a Russian officer from the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic (Russian Federation) and held the same post during the Abkhazian war, when Chechen field commander and militant Shamil Basayev was his deputy. Similarly, former chief of staff, Major General Anatoly Zaitsev had previously served as deputy commander of the Transbaikal Military District (now part of the Siberian Military District) in Russia. Another top official, Deputy Defence Minister Aleksandr Pavlushko is a Russian colonel and the former chief of staff of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia.[15] Georgia also regularly accuses Abkhazia of forcibly recruiting Georgian returnees from the Gali district into the armed forces.[13]

The Abkhaz military is primarily a ground force but includes small sea and air units. In 2006, an "anti-terrorist centre" of some 200 personnel was created under the de facto ministry of interior. The de facto minister of finance estimated, in 2006, that 35 per cent of Abkhazia's budget was spent on the military and police.[13]

On 8 May 2007, Minister of Defence and Vice Premier Sultan Sosnaliyev resigned.[16] He was succeeded as Defence Minister (but not as Vice Premier) by First Deputy Defence Minister Mirab Kishmaria, in an acting fashion from 10 May and permanently from 26 July onwards.[17]

On 14 April 2010, five Deputy Ministers of Defence were retired, including Chief of the Armed Forces Anatoli Zaitsev.[18] Aslan Ankvab was appointed acting First Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff. On 21 May 2010, Beslan Tsvishba was also appointed First Deputy Minister of Defence.[19] On 29 March 2011, Vladimir Vasilchenko succeeded Aslan Ankvab to become the new, permanent, Chief of Staff and First Deputy Minister of Defence.[20]

On 24 November 2014, the governments of Abkhazia and Russia signed a treaty of cooperation that creates a joint force of troops from the two countries.[21] In September 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a proposal to finance the modernization of the Abkhazian Armed Forces.[22]

On 18 May 2015, retired Russian army general Anatoly Khrulyov was appointed Chief of the General Staff by President Raul Khajimba.[23]

Organisation

Military leadership

From # President # Minister of Defence # Chief of the General Staff
1992 No president 1 Vladimir Arshba 1 Sultan Sosnaliyev
1993
2 Sultan Sosnaliyev 2 Sergei Dbar
1994
1 Vladislav Ardzinba
1995
1996
3 Vladimir Mikanba 3 Vladimir Arshba
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
4 Raul Khajimba
2003
5 Viacheslav Eshba
2004
2005
2 Sergei Bagapsh 6 Sultan Sosnaliyev 4 Anatoli Zaitsev
2006
2007
7 Mirab Kishmaria
2008
2009
2010
Aslan AnkvabScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2011
3 Alexander Ankvab 5 Vladimir Vasilchenko
2012
2013
2014
Valeri BganbaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
4 Raul Khajimba
2015
6 Anatoly Khrulyov

Structure

File:Military of Abkhazia.png
Structure of the Abkhazian Armed Forces.
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It is also divided into the following Military Districts:

Branches

Army

According to the authorities of the Republic of Abkhazia, the Abkhazian Land Forces are organised along the Swiss model – in time of peace they have personnel of 3,000 to 5,000 and in case of war further 40-50,000[2] reservists are called out. They are authorised to keep registered weapons at home.

It is divided into the following formations:

  • General Staff Headquarters
  • 1st Motor Rifle Brigade
    • 3-4 Motorized rifle battalions
    • Tank battalion
  • 2nd Motor Rifle Brigade
    • 3-4 Motorized rifle battalions
    • Tank battalion
  • 3rd Motor Rifle Brigade
    • 3-4 Motorized rifle battalions
    • Tank battalion
  • Artillery Regiment
  • Engineering Battalion
  • Mountain Infantry Battalion
  • Intelligence Battalion
  • Independent Special Purpose Detachment

Navy

The Abkhazian Navy consists of three divisions that are based in Sukhumi, Ochamchire and Pitsunda. Four ships Project 1204 Shmel class PBR, 657 (ex-AK-599), 658 (ex-AK-582), and 328 (ex-AK-248) were transferred from the Russian Navy in the late 1990s.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". An additional ship ex-AK-527 was also transferred and cannibalized for spares.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The three Abkhaz ships did not take part in the 2008 South Ossetia conflict, but their state was unclear. As of 2005 the first two of them had one PSKA Project 1400M Grif ("Zhuk") class PC speed-boats each. The navy also includes several civil vessels that were equipped with guns and unguided rocket artillery systems. NOVOSTI (Russian News & Information Agency) gives the following naval figures: over 20 motor boats armed with machine-guns and small-caliber cannons.

Air Force

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The Abkhazian Air Force uses Russian and Soviet-built aircraft. It is a small force, which numbers only 7 aircraft, 3-4 helicopters, and 250 personnel.

Education

  • Sukhumi Higher Combined-Arms Command School
  • The Combined-Arms Academy of the Ministry of Defense at Abkhaz State University. The main mission of the Combined Arms Academy is to train officers with higher military education. The Combined-Arms Academy was the first military educational institution to which the training of officer personnel in operational-tactical command was given entrusted.[24]

Equipment

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "For". The exact numbers and types of equipment remain unverifiable as no thorough international monitoring has ever been carried out in Abkhazia. NOVOSTI (Russian News & Information Agency) gives the following army figures: 10,000-strong Abkhazian Self Defense Force wielding 59 tanks, including 9 T-72s, 92 artillery pieces and mortars, including several dozen with a 122–152-mm caliber and 36 armored vehicles of different types, also has numerous anti-tank weapons ranging from RPG-7 rocket launchers to Konkurs-M anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).[25] Given the status of Abkhazia and recent armed conflict with Georgia a variety of equipment has been utilized by formations of the Abkhazian military, including inherited Soviet equipment, donated Russian weapons, impressed civilian gear, and items captured from the Georgians.

Armored combat vehicles

Model Image Origin Type Number Notes
Tanks
T-72 File:T-72B - TankBiathlon14part1-01.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union
File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 		Main battle tank 9[25]
T-55 File:T54A or Type59.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Main battle tank 50[25]
Infantry fighting vehicles
BMP-2 File:467th Guards District Training Center (414-21).jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union
File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 		Infantry fighting vehicle 25[25]
Armored cars
BRDM-2 File:BRDM-2 (1964) owned by James Stewart pic1.JPG File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Amphibious armoured scout car 11[25]
Anti Air vehicles
9K37 Buk File:BUK file1.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union
File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 		Surface-to-air missile system [25]
ZSU-23-4 Shilka File:ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Togliatti, Russia-2.JPG File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union
File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 		Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon 5[25]

Artillery

Model Image Origin Type Number Notes
Artillery
BM-21 "Grad" File:Rocket launcher BM-21 "Grad" on Ural-375D chassis.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Multiple rocket launcher 14[25]
122 mm 2A18 File:Artilleryman of the Afghan National Army.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Field artillery 90 units in service

(Combined)[25]

85 mm D-44 File:D-44-beyt-hatotchan-1.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Field artillery
120 mm mortar File:2009-11-22-seelower-hoehen-by-Ralf-10.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Mortar
82 mm mortar File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Mortar
KSM-65 100 mm File:Sevastopol Mikhaylovskaya battery 100 mm air defense gun KSM-65 IMG 4199 1725.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Coastal artillery In 2008 some were reactivated from storage; exact types and number are unspecified.[26]

Small arms

Model Image Origin Type Number Notes
RPG-18 File:RPG-18-cutaway.JPG File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Rocket launcher
RPG-7 File:RPG-7 detached.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Rocket launcher
PK File:PKM DD-ST-85-01257.JPEG File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Machine gun
RPK File:Soviet RPK.JPEG File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Light machine gun
AS Val File:AS Val (541-03).jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Suppressed assault rifle
AK-74 File:Ak74l.png File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Assault rifle
AKM File:AKM automatkarbin - 7,62x39mm.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Assault rifle Reserves only.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
AK-47 File:AK-47 type II noBG.png File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Assault rifle Reserves only.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Dragunov File:SVD Dragunov.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Sniper rifle
Makarov File:Pistolet makarova pm travmatik com by-sa.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Pistol
F-1 File:F1 grenade travmatik com 02 by-sa.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Hand grenade
RGD-5 File:Grenade RGD-5 Navy.jpg File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union Hand grenade

Russian troops

Russia maintains a 3,500-strong force in Abkhazia with its headquarters in Gudauta, a former Soviet military base on the Black Sea coast north of the capital, Sukhumi, under a September 2009 agreement on military cooperation. The Gudauta base hosts Russia's 131st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, equipped with at least 41 T-90 main battle tanks and 130 BTR-80 APCs.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The brigade is said to the subordinate to the Russian 49th Army headquartered in Stavropol. As of 2021, the Bombora air base (7th Military Base) also hosts air defence assets which reportedly include S-400 and S-300 surface-to-air missile units.[27]

Symbols

  • The Day of the Armed Forces is celebrated on 11 October.[28]
  • The cities of Tkvarcheli and Gudauta are considered to be "hero cities" as they were awarded the title of Hero of Abkhazia as a result of their military glory.[29][30][31]
  • On 12 July 2018, the Law "On the Banner of Victory in the Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia 1992–1993" was adopted by deputies of the Parliament, being symbol of the military victory of the Abkhazian Armed Forces.[32] Not to be confused with the Soviet Victory Banner, which was raised by the Red Army soldiers on the Reichstag building on 1 May 1945, the Abkhazian Victory Banner was hoisted on the state border along the Ingur River on 20 September 1993. It is currently maintained by the Ministry of Defense of Abkhazia. The location, order and use of the banner is determined by the President of the nation.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  • The Bank of Abkhazia, which responsible for the Abkhazian apsar has issued two coins honoring the Abkhaz military in the patriotic war.

Notes

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  1. ↑ Template:Abkhazia-note

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References

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  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b 45,000 according to the Problems of the unrecognised states in the former USSR: South Caucasus Template:Webarchive by David Petrosyan; 40,000–50,000 according to the Caucasian-style militarism article of the Nezavisimaya Gazeta
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Rusiant-Georgian War 1992–93
  6. ↑ Conflict in the Caucasus: Georgia, Abkhazia, and the Russian Shadow by S. A. Chervonnaia and Svetlana Mikhailovna Chervonnaia, pp 12–13
  7. ↑ Abkhazia Today. Template:Webarchive The International Crisis Group. Europe Report N°176 – 15 September 2006, page 23. Free registration needed to view full report
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Chervonnaia, Svetlana Mikhailovna. Conflict in the Caucasus: Georgia, Abkhazia and the Russian Shadow. Gothic Image Publications, 1994
  12. ↑ White Book of Abkhazia. 1992–1993 Documents, Materials, Evidences. Moscow, 1993.
  13. ↑ a b c Abkhazia Today. Template:Webarchive The International Crisis Group Europe Report N°176, 15 September 2006. Retrieved on May 27, 2007. Free registration needed to view full report
  14. ↑ Abkhaz Defense Minister: Our Officers are Trained in Russia. Civil Georgia, Tbilisi. March 25, 2005. Retrieved on May 27, 2007.
  15. ↑ Vladimir Socor Russia doubling its troops in Georgia's Abkhazia region Template:Webarchive, Eurasia Daily Monitor. Volume 5, Number 85. May 5, 2008.
  16. ↑ Regnum.ru, Министр обороны Абхазии ушел в отставку, (Abkhazian minister of defence resigns), 08.05.2007
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ [1]. The Guardian. 25 November 2014
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Интервью министра обороны Республики Абхазия генерал-полковника Мираба КишмарияScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
  25. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Bibliography

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