BARS (Russia) explained

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

Formation

The 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. In 2019 a study by the RAND Corporation found that there were only 4,000 to 5,000 reservists in the whole of Russia.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

See main article: Russian Invasion of Ukraine. In 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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

Various 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.[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"[12] [14]

Higher formations

Some 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):[42] 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.[43] [44]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Боевой Армейский Резерв Страны - БАРС" . 2022-12-06 . www.temryuk.ru.
  2. Web site: БАРС . 2022-12-06 . bars2021.tilda.ws.
  3. Web site: Сосницкий . Владимир . БАРС: военная служба на полставки . 2022-12-06 . Еженедельник «ЗВЕЗДА» . ru.
  4. Web site: Stepanenko . Kateryna . Kagan . Frederick W. . Brian . Babcock-Lumish . Explainer on Russian Conscription, Reserve, and Mobilization . . 29 August 2023.
  5. News: Coalson . Robert . 'We Were Nothing To Them': Russian Volunteer Reservists Return From War Against Ukraine Feeling Deceived . . 12 August 2022 . 29 August 2023.
  6. Web site: Tenisheva . Anastasia . Glory Hunters or Gold Diggers? The Shadowy World of Russia's 'Volunteers' Fighting in Ukraine . . 15 January 2023 . 24 August 2023.
  7. Web site: Путин подписал указ о повышении предельного возраста пребывания в запасе . . 24 July 2023 . 29 August 2023.
  8. News: Putin Signs Law Raising Age Of People In Military Reserve By Five Years . . 29 August 2023.
  9. Web site: The Kremlin Uses Registered Cossacks as a Means of Stealth Mobilization .
  10. Web site: Миссия казачества на Северном Кавказе – объединять патриотов и быть щитом России . 3 October 2023 .
  11. https://jamestown.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/cossacks-in-BARS-640x482.jpeg.webp
  12. Web site: 150 кубанских казаков пополнят отряды БАРС-16 и БАРС-1 . 2022-12-06 . smotrim.ru.

  13. Units

    Battalions

  14. Web site: Зуй . Василий . Кубанские казаки-добровольцы пополнят отряды БАРС-16 и БАРС-1 . 2022-12-06 . kubantv.ru . ru.
  15. Web site: Russia says it crushes cross-border incursion from Ukraine . . 23 May 2023 . . 29 August 2023.
  16. Web site: Stepanenko . Kateryna . Bailey . Riley . Mappes . Grace . Wolkov . Nicole . Kagan . Fredrick W. . Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 28, 2023 . . 29 August 2023.
  17. Web site: Taylor . Hansen . 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 . 28 April 2023 . 29 August 2023.
  18. Web site: Страх, ненависть и патриотизм. Как учат, отправляют на войну и обманывают российских добровольцев . . 6 April 2023 . 30 August 2023.
  19. Web site: Stepanenko . Kateryna . Hird . Karolina . Mappes . Grace . Kagan. Frederick W. . Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 11 . . 30 August 2023.
  20. Web site: "Сразила вражеская мина": В Оренбурге простились с казаком батальона БАРС-6 "Форштадт" Эдуардом Юдачевым, погибшим в ходе СВО .
  21. Web site: CDS . 2023-07-01 . Russia's war on Ukraine. Daily Snapshot. 30.06.2023 . 2023-09-11 . CDS’s Substack.
  22. Web site: Ukraine Control Map . 2023-09-11 . Google My Maps.
  23. Web site: ИВАНОВА . Кристина . 2022-09-19 . На Украине погиб командир добровольческого отряда "БАРС-9" из Башкирии . 2022-12-06 . Prufy.ru Новости . ru.
  24. Web site: CDS . 2023-06-22 . Russia's war on Ukraine. Daily Snapshot. 22.06.2023 . 2023-09-11 . CDS’s Substack.
  25. Web site: Нахимов . Сергей . 2022-11-16 . "Русский легион" БАРС-13: история, численность и боевой путь . 2022-12-06 . AmalNews . ru-RU.
  26. Web site: Как Сергей Фомченков создал добровольческий батальон БАРС-13 . 2022-12-06 . vesti.ru . ru.
  27. Web site: CDS . 2023-08-22 . Russia's war on Ukraine. 22.08.2023 . 2023-09-11 . CDS’s Substack.
  28. Web site: Бойцов БАРС-16 отряда Кубань торжественно проводили на Донбасс - KrasnodarMedia . 2022-12-06 . krasnodarmedia.su . ru.
  29. Web site: ⚡️Сводки ополчения Новороссии Z.O.V. (ДНР, ЛНР, Украина, Война) . 2023-09-11 . Telegram.
  30. Web site: ⚡️Сводки ополчения Новороссии Z.O.V. (ДНР, ЛНР, Украина, Война) . 2023-09-11 . Telegram.
  31. Web site: Батальон Судоплатова . 2024-01-21 . Telegram.
  32. Web site: WarGonzo . 2023-09-11 . Telegram.
  33. News: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 17, 2024 . RBC-Ukraine . Karolina Hird. Nicole Wolkov. Angelica Evans. Riley Bailey. Kateryna Stepanenko. George Barros . Critical Threats. 17 April 2024.
  34. Web site: CDS . 2023-09-07 . Russia's war on Ukraine. 07.09.2023 . 2023-09-11 . CDS’s Substack.
  35. Web site: CDS . 2023-04-08 . CDS Daily brief (07.04.23) CDS comments on key events . 2023-09-11 . Центр оборонних стратегій . uk.
  36. Web site: Казачий батальон СКИФ . 2024-01-21 . Telegram.
  37. Web site: CDS . 2023-07-04 . Russia's war on Ukraine. Daily Snapshot. 04.07.2023 . 2024-01-21 . CDS’s Substack.
  38. Web site: CDS . 2023-07-05 . Russia's war on Ukraine. Daily Snapshot. 05.07.2023 . 2024-01-21 . CDS’s Substack.
  39. Web site: ⚡️Сводки ополчения Новороссии Z.O.V. (ДНР, ЛНР, Украина, Война) . 2024-01-21 . Telegram.
  40. News: Special fake unit far from front created for Kremlin elite - UK intelligence . RBC-Ukraine . MARIA KHOLINA . 22 April 2024.
  41. News: Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 17, 2024 . RBC-Ukraine . Karolina Hird. Nicole Wolkov. Angelica Evans. Riley Bailey. Kateryna Stepanenko. George Barros . Critical Threats. 17 April 2024.
  42. https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-67454788
  43. https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/04/28/vagnera-postavili-na-potok
  44. https://notes.citeam.org/ru-dispatch-apr-24-25

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