Russia is converting personnel from its Strategic Missile Forces, Aerospace Forces, and Navy into ground infantry, according to Viktor Kevliuk, a military expert at the Center for Defense Strategies. He detailed this assessment in a Facebook analysis republished by Ukrainian outlet NV on 29 January.
The claimed conversions would mark an escalation of a documented pattern. Russia has previously stripped personnel from its Strategic Missile Forces for infantry duty—the branch responsible for Russia's land-based nuclear deterrent. If Kevliuk's assessment is accurate, the practice now extends to the Navy as well.
What Kevliuk reports
The analyst identified three consolidated motorized rifle regiments, Kevliuk says, that are now operating in Ukraine:
- Strategic Missile Forces personnel in the North group of forces in Kursk Oblast, with a battalion also spotted near Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast
- Aerospace Forces personnel in the North group operating in Sumy Oblast
- Baltic Fleet personnel in the Center group near Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast
Kevliuk speculates that other Russian fleets may have contributed battalions as well. "One must think that each fleet formed a battalion," he wrote. However, only the Baltic Fleet battalion is specifically identified in his report.
"They're raking up everything alive. Such strange formations arise in the event of a severe shortage of operational reserves." —Viktor Kevliuk, Center for Defense Strategies
Pulling troops: an established Russian precedent
Kevliuk's analysis builds on documented precedents. The deployment of Strategic Missile Forces and Aerospace Forces personnel as infantry was first reported in late 2024 by Militarnyi and other outlets.
In September 2024, Russia formed a "Frigate" mechanized battalion from crew members of the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only aircraft carrier. The battalion deployed first to the Kharkiv border, then to the Pokrovsk front.
Separately, the Institute for the Study of War has documented naval infantry brigades—dedicated marine units—operating near Kostiantynivka. These include the 155th and 40th brigades from the Pacific Fleet and the 336th from the Baltic Fleet. However, naval infantry are professional marines, distinct from the converted sailors Kevliuk describes.
Visualization of Kevliuk's report
The admiral who resisted
The broader pattern of stripping Russian fleets for ground combat is well established. The Pacific Fleet's 155th Marine Brigade was nearly destroyed at Vuhledar in February 2023. Brigade members reported losing approximately 300 personnel in four days.
Admiral Sergey Avakyants, Pacific Fleet commander since 2012, was dismissed days after a "surprise inspection" in April 2023 and reassigned to head youth military training centers—a clear demotion.
Admiral Viktor Liina, transferred from the Baltic Fleet, replaced him. "And the process [of transferring troops from the Pacific Fleet] continued as requested," Kevliuk noted.
Unverified claims
Kevliuk also cited reports that the 20th Army may be reorganizing its battalions, eliminating independent platoons to concentrate infantry strength. He acknowledged this remains unconfirmed.
"It is not yet completely clear whether this is a hoax or the realities of the Russian army," Kevliuk wrote, "but it is an interesting thought."
