Russia plans troop surge in Armenia, Ukrainian intel reveals secret order

The DIU published a telegram from the acting Chief of Staff of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, Major General Zemskov.

"The document contains an order from the commander of the troops of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces to build up the grouping of Russian troops by so-called manning the Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia," the DIU says.

Photo: Russia plans to increase its military presence in Armenia (t.me/DIUkraine)

The telegram contains a list of measures to man up the units of the Russian unit by selecting personnel from among the soldiers of the 8th, 18th, 49th, and 58th Combined Arms Armies of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces.

"To the commander of the military unit - field mail 04436: in the period from May 13 to June 11, 2025, to select personnel in the formations and military units of the military district, for the subsequent conclusion of the first contracts and sending them to a military base for further military service," the letter reads.

Also, in the telegram, commanders were ordered to facilitate the selection of candidates. It also clarified the requirements for professional aptitude, level of psychological stability, and combat training of personnel.

Relations between Russia and Armenia

Relations between the two countries began to deteriorate after the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. Back in September 2023, Armenia criticized the Collective Security Treaty Organization for its inaction when Azerbaijan launched an operation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

In June 2024, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that his country would withdraw from the CSTO and make a corresponding decision.

In April 2024, Armenia officially began its path to the European Union (EU).