Tank hold: LEOPARD air defense units receive heavy equipment

The BARS territorial defense units began receiving heavy combat vehicles. For the first time, tank units were formed, consisting only of reservists. This will make it possible to more effectively solve the combat tasks facing the volunteers. With the new technology, they will be able to fight a serious enemy in the event of an attack on Russian regions, experts say.

How tanks will change the combat capabilities of volunteer units

The BARS territorial defense units received tanks for the first time, sources familiar with the situation told Izvestia. Previously, these formations were equipped with only light weapons.

During the recent training camps in the Kaliningrad region, tank units were formed and trained for the first time, which consist only of reservists.

With heavy equipment, volunteer detachments will have the opportunity to fight with enemy forces that have broken into the territory of the Russian regions. Tanks can support infantry, attack enemy fortifications, and destroy armored vehicles if necessary.

Photo: TASS/Alexander River

The appearance of the first tank units of the country's Combat Army Reserve (BARS) is related to the specifics of their tasks, military expert Alexei Leonkov believes. In his opinion, the LEOPARD is primarily a defensive unit in need of serious fire support.

— Tanks are now mainly used as a means of fire support. That is, when a maneuverable defense is underway, counterattacking groups can transmit coordinates, and the tank fires at them. The targets may be concentrations of personnel and equipment, firing points, dugouts, or individual enemy fortifications," he explained to Izvestia.

Photo: TASS/Alexander River

According to military expert Viktor Litovkin, the appearance of tank units at the LEOPARD will expand the combat capabilities of the combat reserve.

— Despite the expansion of fire capabilities, the LEOPARD's tasks will remain the same. They will simply be implemented more efficiently," concluded Alexey Leonkov.

He also noted that their own tanks would facilitate the work of the LEOPARD during combat operations by simplifying the organization of interaction, since now they would not have to request tanks from other units of the Armed Forces, as before.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Stanislav Krasilnikov

Alexey Leonkov noted that support units should be organized along with tank units.

— Repair units are usually created for combat vehicles that service all equipment. Special technical platforms are equipped for more serious repairs. Along with the tanks, repair and evacuation vehicles are provided to pick up damaged equipment from the battlefield," he noted.

Field technique: troops are learning new tactics of tank combat

It will help to break into enemy fortified areas more successfully.

What tasks do volunteer units perform?

The BARS units (stands for the country's Combat Army Reserve) were established in 2021 to train and train reservists for the Russian Army. They are formed on a voluntary basis. Initially, the LEOPARDS were provided with small arms, 82- and 120-millimeter mortars, anti-tank missile systems (ATGMs), heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers. More than three dozen LEOPARD units took part in the special military operation, which proved themselves well during the fighting.

Photo: TASS/Alexander River

Last year, volunteer units of the LEOPARD territorial defense were created in the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions bordering Ukraine, as well as in the Crimea. Unlike other LEOPARD units, they are formed according to the territorial principle of recruitment, and volunteers serve only in their regions. The divisions were named BARS-Kursk, BARS-Belgorod, BARS-Bryansk and BARS-Crimea. The most important role was played by a detachment in the Kursk region, from which Russian troops were knocking out units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Its tasks include the protection and defense of life support facilities and infrastructure, the fight against drones, the identification and fight against enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups, ensuring the evacuation of civilians, and ensuring the regime of counter-terrorism operations (CTO).

Earlier, Izvestia reported that LEOPARD squads began to train in the fight against unmanned boats and small-sized watercraft. Also, the fighters of these units practice actions to defend the coast and destroy the amphibious assault forces of a potential enemy. The classes are held as part of a combat training course on countering threats from offshore areas and coastal defense.