North Caucasian National Guard District
Organizational Overview
The North Caucasian National Guard District is a regional command of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation (Rosgvardiya). Rosgvardiya was established by Presidential Decree on 5 April 2016 and further codified by Federal Law No. 226-FZ of 3 July 2016. The district exercises operational control over National Guard units in and around the North Caucasus, focusing on statutory missions that include maintaining public order, counterterrorism and counter-extremism support (in coordination with other state agencies), protection of critical state facilities and special cargoes, territorial defense tasks, and support to border protection.
Headquarters and Area of Responsibility
Headquarters is in Rostov-on-Don, a major transport and logistics hub linking central Russia with the North Caucasus via the M-4 Don highway, the North Caucasus Railway, and river port facilities on the Don. The district’s operational focus encompasses the North Caucasus region, including the republics of Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, North Ossetia–Alania, and Stavropol Krai. Specific garrison addresses and precise coordinates for subordinate units are not publicly disclosed.
Legal Framework and Command
Rosgvardiya is headed by the Director (Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard Troops), who reports directly to the President of the Russian Federation; as of 2025, this post is held by General of the Army Viktor V. Zolotov. The district command implements authorities under Federal Law No. 226-FZ (2016) and related legislation, including the law on combating terrorism, enabling it to provide armed support to law enforcement, protect designated facilities and communications, escort special cargoes, and conduct territorial defense tasks when ordered.
Order of Battle (Units Provided)
Subordinate formations and units reported under the North Caucasian National Guard District include: - 22nd Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (military unit 3642) - 50th Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (military unit 3660) - 230th National Guard Protection and Support Regiment (military unit 7405) - 170th Separate Internal Troops Battalion (military unit 3504) - 6th Separate Special Purpose Aviation Squadron (military unit 3692) – Mi-8MTV-2 - 685th Separate Special Purpose Mixed Aviation Regiment (military unit 3686) – Mi-8MTV-2, Mi-24P, Mi-26T, An-26B - 142nd Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment (military unit 5592) - 30th Separate Special Regiment "Svyatogor" (military unit 5559) - 30th Training Brigade (military unit 3033) - 82nd Training Regiment (military unit 3722)
22nd Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (military unit 3642)
As an operational purpose formation of Rosgvardiya, the brigade’s statutory tasks include rapid reinforcement of public order operations, area security, support to counterterrorism actions led by competent agencies, protection of critical facilities, convoy and checkpoint security, and stabilization tasks in urban and rural terrain. Equipment in this category of unit commonly includes armored personnel carriers such as BTR-80/82A, protected utility vehicles (e.g., GAZ-2330 Tigr), and a range of light and medium trucks (KamAZ/Ural family). Exact subunit structure, garrison location, and equipment holdings for military unit 3642 are not publicly released.
50th Separate Operational Purpose Brigade (military unit 3660)
This brigade fulfills functions analogous to other Rosgvardiya operational purpose formations: crowd and riot control, cordon-and-search support, route and site security, convoys of designated cargoes, and quick-reaction reinforcement. Such brigades typically field motorized companies/battalions with armored carriers and protected mobility, supported by reconnaissance, engineer, medical, signal, and logistics elements. Detailed manning levels, precise basing, and full inventory data for military unit 3660 are not available from open public sources.
230th National Guard Protection and Support Regiment (military unit 7405)
Regiments of protection and support in Rosgvardiya are tasked with guarding critical state facilities, escorting special cargoes, and providing security for infrastructure and communications designated by the government. They also furnish convoy, checkpoint, and facility security detachments and may provide area security for lines of communication. Open sources do not provide official personnel strength, subunit layouts, or specific site lists for military unit 7405.
170th Separate Internal Troops Battalion (military unit 3504)
This battalion descends from the former Internal Troops (VV) structure incorporated into Rosgvardiya in 2016. Such battalions perform area and facility security, reinforcement of public order operations, and support to counterterrorism measures under legal authorization. Publicly accessible sources do not detail the battalion’s precise garrison, subunit composition, or strength.
Aviation Forces Overview in the District
The district includes dedicated Rosgvardiya aviation units for transport, assault support, and logistics. Typical missions are troop insertion and extraction, air mobility for rapid response, medical evacuation, aerial reconnaissance and patrol, and cargo lift to austere or mountainous sites. Aircraft listed for district aviation include Mi-8MTV-2 transport helicopters, Mi-24P attack helicopters, Mi-26T heavy-lift helicopters, and An-26B light transport aircraft. Airfield and heliport locations for these units are not publicly enumerated in official sources.
6th Separate Special Purpose Aviation Squadron (military unit 3692) – Mi-8MTV-2
The squadron operates the Mi-8MTV-2, a modernized member of the Mi-8/17 family. Typical performance parameters for the Mi-8MTV-2 include a maximum takeoff weight around 13,000 kg, cruise speed approximately 220–230 km/h (maximum about 250 km/h), range roughly 450–600 km depending on load and fuel, and capacity for about 24 troops or up to approximately 4,000 kg of internal cargo (with external sling load capability). Mission sets include troop transport, insertion to confined landing zones, resupply, medevac, and, when configured, armed escort.
685th Separate Special Purpose Mixed Aviation Regiment (military unit 3686) – Mi-8MTV-2, Mi-24P, Mi-26T, An-26B
This mixed aviation regiment fields rotary- and fixed-wing types that together provide assault support, heavy airlift, and regional transport. Mi-8MTV-2 platforms handle general transport and utility roles. Mi-24P attack helicopters (with a fixed starboard GSh-30-2 30 mm cannon and external stores up to roughly 2,400 kg) furnish armed escort, fire support, and anti-armor capability (commonly with 9M114 Shturm or 9M120 Ataka ATGMs and 80 mm rocket pods). Mi-26T heavy-lift helicopters provide strategic lift (payload up to about 20 tonnes; cruise speed ~255 km/h; range around 800 km with standard fuel), enabling movement of vehicles, heavy equipment, or large cargo. An-26B twin-turboprops cover light airlift (payload around 5.5 tonnes; typical cruise near 440–540 km/h; operational range roughly 1,100 km with payload). Detailed aircraft counts, tail numbers, and home-base specifics are not publicly released.
142nd Separate Mixed Aviation Regiment (military unit 5592)
This regiment is designated as a mixed aviation unit within Rosgvardiya. Public open sources do not provide authoritative, current detail on its aircraft composition or basing. Based on the category, missions would be expected to include regional air transport, helicopter support to ground units, and logistics flights comparable to other Rosgvardiya mixed aviation regiments.
30th Separate Special Regiment "Svyatogor" (military unit 5559)
The regiment is identified as a separate special regiment within the district; open reporting associates it with the moniker "Svyatogor." In Rosgvardiya usage, "special" formations are high-readiness units trained for complex internal security tasks, including direct support to counterterrorism operations led by competent authorities, high-importance facility security, and reinforcement missions. Detailed subunit structure, specialized equipment, and basing for military unit 5559 are not publicly disclosed.
Training Establishments: 30th Training Brigade (military unit 3033) and 82nd Training Regiment (military unit 3722)
These training formations conduct initial and advanced instruction for personnel assigned across the district. Typical curricula in Rosgvardiya training units include small-arms marksmanship and safety, unit tactics in urban and mountainous terrain, convoy and checkpoint procedures, communications, first aid, engineering basics (route clearance and fortification), driver training for standard vehicle types, and legal/regulatory instruction. Course lengths, intake capacity, and training range locations are not publicly itemized.
Infrastructure and Basing Considerations
District sites typically include secure garrisons with barracks and administrative buildings, motor pools and maintenance depots for armored and soft-skin vehicles, ammunition and POL storage areas, training grounds and ranges, and (for aviation units) aprons, hangars, and helipads. Connectivity to national rail lines and federal highways is critical for mobility; the headquarters city’s role as a regional transport nexus supports logistics flows to and from the North Caucasus. Specific facility addresses, internal layouts, and protective systems are not publicly released.
Logistics and Mobility
Ground formations ordinarily rely on KamAZ and Ural family trucks for transport and supply, with protected mobility provided by BTR-80/82A and GAZ-2330 Tigr-type vehicles in operational units. Aviation assets (Mi-8MTV-2, Mi-26T, An-26B) enable rapid deployment of personnel and materiel into mountainous or austere zones, while Mi-24P provides armed overwatch for air-mobile operations. Standardized logistics and maintenance support encompass vehicle recovery, second-line repair, medical support, and communications sustainment; detailed stock levels and supply routes are not publicly detailed.
Interagency Coordination and Typical Tasks
Rosgvardiya units in the North Caucasus routinely coordinate with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), the Federal Security Service (FSB) including its Border Service, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM). Typical tasks include reinforcement of public order, area security and cordon operations, support to counterterrorism actions led by authorized agencies, protection of critical facilities and special cargoes, and the establishment of checkpoints and convoy security along key routes. Aviation elements support these tasks with air mobility, medevac, and aerial patrol.
Information Reliability and Gaps
Unit names, types, and military unit numbers listed are consistent with publicly accessible reporting on Rosgvardiya structures. However, precise garrison locations, internal organization, personnel strengths, detailed equipment tables, tail numbers, and exact facility layouts are not officially published and may be classified. Where such specifics are not publicly available, this analysis refrains from asserting details.