Contact Admin. The Caspian Flotilla is the maritime element of the Southern Military District, which is stationed in Astrakhan and ensures Russian national interests in the Caspian Sea region by carrying out antiterrorist activities, providing safety of trade, protecting national interests in the area of oil fields. The flotilla consists of several brigades and divisions of surface ships and units of coastal troops. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russia will be closing the headquarters of the Caspian Flotilla in Astrakhan and moving to a new location in Dagestan.
The number of our officers and other personnel will increase manifold," Shoigu said at a conference of senior Defense Ministry officials on 01 April The Caspian Flotilla gained prominence in Russia's strategic vision when it carried out a series of cruise missile strikes at terrorist positions in Syria in October The Caspian Flotilla is a small force for coastal defense and waterways patrol consisting of two frigates, twelve patrol boats, and about fifty other small craft based in Astrakhan'.
Command and equipment are shared with Azerbaijan and Kazakstan, other former Soviet republics on the Caspian littoral. The Caspian Flotilla was for a time a bone of contention between Russia and various other republics, though a March agreement divided up the Caspian Flotilla among Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. The withdrawal of troops from Azerbaijan required Russia to establish military infrastructure in Astrakhan, providing a new base for the Caspian flotilla.
Divided in , by the Caspian sea flotilla was no longer able to cope with its mission of deterring smuggling. In mid Russia decided to reinforce the Caspian Flotilla and expand its activities. The flotilla will receive funding to create additional coastal facilities for its ships and a crack unit for special operations on land. It is also to receive additional armored personnel carriers for its marine infantry. A related program reportedly envisages more frequent visits by flotilla ships to Iranian ports.
Today, under the new geopolitical conditions, the role and value of Caspian flotilla grows. Primary tasks today become the guarantee of nation- state interests of Russia in the region, opposition to terrorism.
