Russia’s battalion tactical groups Russia has sent reinforcements to eastern Ukraine, adding 11 so-called battalion tactical groups (BTGs) and bringing its total to around 76, down from some 120 at the start of the war Sergei Shoigu: Appointed by President Vladimir Putin as Minister of Defence in 2012. Tasked with upgrading Russian Ground Forces from Soviet-era model. Divisions and regiments are replaced with brigades which can each field elite BTG combat units Gen. Aleksandr Dvornikov: Appointed by Putin as ground commander in Ukraine, acknowledging invasion has not gone according to plan. Oversaw Russia’s brutal intervention in Syria T-90A: 125mm cannon, 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns. Crew: 3 BMP-3: 100mm cannon. Crew: 3 plus 7 troops To scale Msta-S self propelled howitzers: 152mm cannon. Crew: 5 Tanks: Two companies, each with ten T-80 or T-90 main battle tanks Typical Russian Army BTG: Created around motorised rifle and tank companies. 700 to 900 troops with reconnaissance patrols and drones, multiple rocket launchers, self-propelled artillery, mortars, flamethrowers, and Pantsir S-1 air defence systems Motorised infantry: Three companies with 30 BMP infantry fighting vehicles. Each BMP carries seven soldiers for dismounted operations – 210 infantry troops Kalashnikov AK-74 assault rifle is primary personal weapon of motorised infantry Aug 2021: Shoigu announces there are 168 BTGs in Russian Armed Forces Apr 2022: Some 37-38 BTGs withdrawn following heavy losses. 22 BTGs in north are being refitted and resupplied BTG command and control: Senior officers must go to front line to command BTGs. Maj. Gen. Vladimir Frolov – Deputy commander of 8th Army leading attack against Mariupol – is eighth Russian general killed in Ukraine ----------------------------------------------- Russian control territory Ukrainian counteroffensives Russian control cities Russian BTGs RUSSIA Sumy Kharkiv Izyum UKRAINE Mykolaiv Melitopol MOLDOVA Kherson Odesa BLACK SEA GEORGIA BELARUS KYIV Berdyansk Luhansk Donetsk DONBAS Mariupol offensive 22 North 64 Donbas offensive 37-38 Withdrawn 44 BTGs in reserve 12 100km 60 miles CRIMEA Annexed in 2014 ------------------------------------------------------ Sources: CSIS, Foreign Policy, Rand Corporation, Russian Defense Policy Pictures: Getty Images, Fontanka/east2west news © GRAPHIC NEWS