Baltic Fleet
Strategic Overview — Baltic Fleet and Kaliningrad Footprint
The Baltic Fleet is a formation of the Russian Navy responsible for operations in the Baltic Sea and adjacent approaches. Its headquarters (military unit 51280) is in Kaliningrad, with principal basing at Baltiysk (Kaliningrad Oblast) and the Leningrad Naval Base (Kronstadt, St. Petersburg). As of 2023–2024, open sources report Vice Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov as Commander of the Baltic Fleet; Vice Admiral Viktor Liina previously commanded the Baltic Fleet before being appointed Commander of the Pacific Fleet in April 2023. The Baltic Fleet provides maritime presence, coastal defense, amphibious lift, mine countermeasures, and supports regional anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) together with air and ground formations in Kaliningrad Oblast.
Headquarters and Command-and-Control Nodes
The Baltic Fleet Headquarters (military unit 51280) in Kaliningrad directs fleet operations, logistics, and coordination with joint forces. Continuity of command is supported by the 180th Reserve Command Post of the Baltic Fleet (military unit 30879), a designated backup command-and-control node. Two separate communications battalions—the 81st (military unit 90263) and the 135th (military unit 75236)—provide fixed and mobile communications, including HF/VHF/UHF radio, satellite, and secure data links for fleet and coastal units. An additional Special Purpose Naval Communications Unit of the Main Directorate (GRU) (military unit 10730) is identified in open sources; detailed functions are not publicly disclosed. These elements underpin distributed, redundant C2 across Kaliningrad and the Leningrad Naval Base.
Main Basing and Infrastructure
Baltiysk is the main naval base for the Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad Oblast, hosting surface combatants, amphibious ships, auxiliaries, and port-security units. Kaliningrad city hosts the fleet HQ and repair/logistics facilities; the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad builds and repairs naval vessels (e.g., Project 11356 frigates for the Black Sea Fleet were completed there; Project 11711 landing ships have been constructed/modernized there). The Khmelevka training ground on the Baltic coast is publicly documented as a principal amphibious training site used by the fleet’s naval infantry. Within the broader fleet, the Leningrad Naval Base at Kronstadt (St. Petersburg) supports operations in the eastern Gulf of Finland and hosts additional port-defense and support units.
Order of Battle — Units and Military Unit Numbers (OSINT Attributions)
Open-source reporting attributes the following identifiers to Baltic Fleet units enumerated here: Baltic Fleet HQ — military unit 51280 (Kaliningrad); 336th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade — military unit 06017; 561st Naval Reconnaissance Point — military unit 10617; 473rd PDSS Counteraction Special Purpose Detachment — military unit 39080; 313rd PDSS Counteraction Special Purpose Detachment — military unit 10742; 25th Separate Coastal Missile Regiment — military unit 39108; 69th Separate Guards Naval Engineer Regiment — military unit 51061; 127th Separate Naval Engineer Battalion — military unit 59057; 81st Separate Communications Battalion — military unit 90263; 135th Separate Communications Battalion — military unit 75236; 142nd Separate EW Battalion — military unit 03047; 328th Separate EW Battalion — military unit 03051; 180th Reserve Command Post of the Baltic Fleet — military unit 30879; Special Purpose Naval Communications Unit (GRU) — military unit 10730.
336th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade (military unit 06017)
The 336th Separate Guards Naval Infantry Brigade is the Baltic Fleet’s principal ground combat formation for amphibious and coastal operations. It is based in Kaliningrad Oblast and routinely trains at the Khmelevka coastal range. Publicly documented equipment includes BTR-80/82A armored personnel carriers, 2S1 Gvozdika 122 mm self-propelled howitzers, 2S9 Nona-S 120 mm self-propelled mortars, and MT-LB carriers; the brigade has also been documented operating T-72 series tanks (reported as T-72B3) in official media and regional parades. The formation conducts amphibious landings, littoral defense, and urban/rural ground combat training, and interoperates with the fleet’s landing ships (e.g., Project 775 Ropucha-class) for assault and reinforcement missions.
Naval Special Reconnaissance and Port-Security Forces
The 561st Naval Reconnaissance Point (military unit 10617) is a naval special-purpose formation tasked with maritime and littoral reconnaissance, hydrographic and beach reconnaissance, and support to clandestine and special operations in the maritime domain. Port and base security against underwater threats is performed by PDSS (Underwater Sabotage Forces and Means) detachments, including the 473rd PDSS Counteraction Special Purpose Detachment (military unit 39080) and the 313rd PDSS Counteraction Special Purpose Detachment (military unit 10742). Their duties include surveillance, detection, and neutralization of combat divers, mines, and unmanned underwater vehicles in approaches to naval bases. Baltic Fleet PDSS units are publicly shown operating anti-saboteur systems and boats (e.g., DP-64/DP-65 launchers and Project 21980 Grachonok-class boats) during drills in Baltiysk and Kronstadt.
Coastal Defense — 25th Separate Coastal Missile Regiment (military unit 39108)
The 25th Separate Coastal Missile Regiment is equipped with the 3K60 Bal coastal missile system. Bal employs Kh-35/Kh-35U anti-ship cruise missiles; Russian sources state engagement ranges up to approximately 260–300 km for the Kh-35U variant, depending on profile and conditions. The system is road-mobile, with each launcher carrying up to eight missiles, supported by command, target acquisition, and reload vehicles. The regiment provides anti-ship coverage of the Kaliningrad littoral and maritime approaches, integrating with fleet surface, air, and ISR assets for target cueing and battle damage assessment. Public reporting places Bal batteries from this regiment operating within Kaliningrad Oblast during live-fire exercises.
Electronic Warfare Forces — 142nd and 328th Separate EW Battalions
The 142nd Separate EW Battalion (military unit 03047) and the 328th Separate EW Battalion (military unit 03051) provide electronic support measures (ESM), electronic attack (EA), and electronic protection (EP) to Baltic Fleet and coastal formations. Their tasks include radio and radar reconnaissance, jamming of adversary C2 and navigation aids, protection of friendly communications, and support to air defense and coastal missile targeting through the electromagnetic order of battle. These battalions operate ground-mobile EW assets in Kaliningrad Oblast and coordinate with naval platforms that carry shipboard EW suites, contributing to the region’s A2/AD posture.
Engineering Support — 69th Regiment and 127th Battalion
The 69th Separate Guards Naval Engineer Regiment (military unit 51061) and the 127th Separate Naval Engineer Battalion (military unit 59057) provide combat engineering and port infrastructure support. Missions include beach and port preparation, obstacle emplacement and clearance, route opening, explosive ordnance disposal (including underwater EOD), construction of field fortifications, and repair of maritime facilities. These units directly support amphibious operations of the 336th Naval Infantry and ensure the resilience of naval bases, piers, and logistics nodes in Kaliningrad Oblast.
Communications Network — 81st and 135th Battalions; GRU Naval Communications Unit
The 81st Separate Communications Battalion (military unit 90263) and the 135th Separate Communications Battalion (military unit 75236) establish and maintain operational communications for the Baltic Fleet’s headquarters, coastal troops, and subordinate commands, using fixed infrastructure and deployable systems to provide voice, data, and secure links. A Special Purpose Naval Communications Unit of the GRU (military unit 10730) is also identified in open sources; specific functions are not publicly disclosed. Collectively, these units provide redundancy between Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg basing areas and enable inter-service connectivity with air defense and ground elements stationed in the region.
Port and Base Security — PDSS Implementation in Baltic Ports
Baltic Fleet PDSS detachments conduct continuous security operations in approaches to Baltiysk and Kronstadt, employing divers, sonars, barrier nets, patrol craft, and anti-saboteur grenade launchers to deter and respond to underwater threats. Publicly released drills show inspection of ship hulls, harbor floor searches, and neutralization training against simulated diver-delivered charges and unmanned underwater vehicles. These measures are integrated with harbor surveillance radars, coastal observation posts, and the fleet’s patrol boats to protect warships, auxiliaries, and critical waterfront infrastructure.
Integration with Regional Forces and A2/AD
Kaliningrad Oblast hosts layered defenses that combine Baltic Fleet assets with other services. Public reporting documents the presence of long-range air defense systems (e.g., S-400) and the 9K720 Iskander-M ballistic missile system under ground formations in the region. The Baltic Fleet’s coastal missile regiment, EW battalions, naval infantry, and port-security units integrate with these capabilities for maritime domain awareness, coastal strike, and protection of bases and sea lines. Operational control and coordination are exercised through the fleet’s HQ and subordinate command nodes to support deterrence and defense in the Baltic theater.
Recent Publicly Reported Activities (2022–2024)
Russian Ministry of Defense releases and state media reported Baltic Fleet participation in large-scale exercises such as Ocean Shield (Okeanskiy Shchit) in 2023 and subsequent periods, involving surface combatants, support vessels, and naval aviation in the Baltic Sea. Public footage shows the 336th Naval Infantry Brigade conducting amphibious landings and live-fire at Khmelevka, PDSS detachments executing anti-saboteur drills in Baltiysk and Kronstadt, and the 25th Coastal Missile Regiment executing Bal system deployments and training launches in Kaliningrad Oblast. These activities emphasize coastal defense, sea control in confined waters, and protection of maritime infrastructure.
Information Availability and Classification Notes
Exact manpower figures, detailed equipment holdings, readiness levels, internal layouts of command posts, and precise locations for many of the listed units are not publicly disclosed or are classified. The unit designations and military unit numbers provided above reflect identifiers reported in open sources. City-level basing and publicly known training areas are included where verifiable; sensitive specifics such as exact facility addresses, hardened site details, and secure communications parameters are not provided.