Revitalization of Tank Forces: Russia’s National Guard Expands Military Arsenal Amidst Internal Challenges

Russia’s National Guard (Rosgvardia) has once again incorporated tank units into its structure as part of a broader enhancement of its heavy weaponry, according to the organization’s leader, Viktor Zolotov, who made the announcement on Thursday.

Zolotov stated that the agency has considerably bolstered its firepower over the last two years.

«For the first time, we have integrated tanks, anti-tank artillery, self-propelled guns, and multiple-launch rocket systems into our operations,» TASS, the state-news agency, reported him as saying.

This overhaul began following the Wagner mercenary uprising in June 2023. During the failed revolt, Wagner troops, equipped with tanks, advanced to the outskirts of Moscow, rebelling against Russia’s military leadership over conflict regarding the invasion of Ukraine.

As of January 2024, Rosgvardia reported a personnel count of approximately 370,000, with Zolotov vowing to further increase numbers to maintain order in Russia and control over the occupied territories in Ukraine.

Established in 2016, Rosgvardia serves as an internal security force that reports directly to President Putin, a response to protests calling for his resignation.

Zolotov, who previously served as a bodyguard for both Putin and Boris Yeltsin, reflected on the 1991 coup attempt, claiming that it could have been quashed within 20 minutes if the Kremlin had acted decisively.

During the Wagner mutiny, which began in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don—a strategic location for the invasion of Ukraine—Rosgvardia had a minimal visible presence. Zolotov later justified this, indicating that troops were positioned to safeguard approaches to Moscow to prevent the capital’s capture.

He characterized Wagner’s insurrection as being «inspired by the West,» suggesting that Prigozhin either collaborated with Western intelligence or was motivated by personal ambition to ascend in power.