Russian military to 'replenish' Russian military base in Armenia – Ukrainian intelligence agency
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR) has published a telegram message from the acting chief of staff of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, Major General Zemskov.
As noted in the message on the GUR website, the document contains an order from the commander of the troops of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces to increase the grouping of Russian troops through the so-called replenishment of the Russian military base in the city of Gyumri (Armenia).
The message lists a list of measures for the urgent "replenishment" of units of the Russian unit by selecting personnel from among the servicemen 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 post 04436: in the period from May 13 to June 11, 2025, carry out the selection of personnel in the formations and military units of the military district, for the subsequent conclusion of the first contracts and sending them to the military base for further military service," the message says.
The commanders of the specified units are ordered to do their best to facilitate the selection of candidates for service in Gyumri.
The order specifies the requirements for professional suitability, the level of psychological stability and combat training of personnel who will be part of the future international contingent. In particular, it is prohibited to select persons who "took part in the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances."
Ukraine’s Military Directorate of the Ministry of Defense continues to monitor the movement of Russian troops.
Earlier, the GUR stated that the Kremlin has accelerated the staffing of its military base in Gyumri (Armenia) in order to increase military-political pressure on the countries of the South Caucasus. According to GUR representative Andrey Yusov, the deployment of Russian troops in Armenia is an element of the Kremlin's comprehensive strategy aimed at destabilizing the global security situation.
"Along with the incitement of the interethnic conflict, Moscow is increasing its military presence in the Caucasus. It is likely that the deterioration of relations between Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation was prepared in advance," he said. The Armenian Foreign Ministry rejected the GUR's information about the possible use of the country's territory to increase military-political pressure on the countries of the South Caucasus.
"In response to the fabricated information that appeared in the press, the Republic of Armenia once again confirms its principled position, according to which the territory of the Republic of Armenia cannot be used by third states to carry out military actions against any of the neighboring states," the media quoted the Foreign Ministry statement as saying.