Russia Increases Military Presence in Armenia Amid Azerbaijan Tensions

Russia has accelerated the buildup of its military base in Gyumri, Armenia, as tensions with Azerbaijan escalate, according to Ukrainian intelligence reports. The Kremlin is recruiting personnel from Russian servicemen stationed in the Rostov and Volgograd regions and occupied Crimea, as well as volunteers from North Caucasus ethnic groups like North Ossetia and Adygea, aiming to increase military and political pressure on South Caucasus countries. This deployment is viewed as part of a broader Kremlin strategy to destabilize regional and global security by inflaming interethnic conflicts and provoking tensions between states. The deterioration in Russia-Azerbaijan relations followed recent crackdowns on ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia, including the death of two Azerbaijani brothers in custody and the detention of FSB agents operating undercover in Azerbaijan. Amid these developments, Armenia is diversifying its military partnerships by purchasing Indian-made weapons, signaling a move to strengthen its defense capabilities while distancing itself from Moscow. Ukrainian military intelligence continues to monitor Russian troop movements closely both within Russia and beyond its borders.