22nd Guards Combined Arms Army (22nd Gds. CAA) — a military formation of the Armed Forces stationed in Nizhny Novgorod. It was originally formed on March 1, 1991, on the basis of the 13th Guards Army Corps and disbanded on May 7, 1992, with its functions transferred to a successor of the same name.[1] It was reinstated as an independent formation and continued to operate in the following years as part of the Moscow Military District, with its headquarters in Nizhny Novgorod and units at the training ground in Mulino.[1][2]

History of Formation

The army in its original form was created on March 1, 1991, by reorganizing the 13th Guards Army Corps. From its establishment until its disbandment on May 7, 1992, it was subordinate to the Moscow Military District and was based in Nizhny Novgorod. The chief of staff during this period was Major General Aleksandr Ivanovich Baranov. The commanders in succession were: Lieutenant General Leonid Sergeyevich Mayorov (from March 1 to July 17, 1991) and Major General (later Lieutenant General) Ivan Ivanovich Yefremov (from July 18, 1991, to May 7, 1992).[1]

Nizhny Novgorod Connection

During its existence, the army was stationed in Nizhny Novgorod, and its units operated at the training ground of the Gorokhovets Training Center. In February 2000, the army conducted large-scale tactical exercises with live-fire at this training ground. The 237th Tank Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division advanced by combined march to the lines of the notional enemy's echeloned defense and, supported by artillery, combined arms assets, and army aviation, broke through it. According to observers from the Moscow Military District, most targets were hit with the first shots. The army's commander at the time, Major General Aleksey Merkuryev, noted that exercises of such scale with live-fire had not been held in the army since 1997; meanwhile, army units were serving in Chechnya.[2]

Sources

  1. valka.cz — 22. gardová vševojsková armáda [1991-1992] : Gardové vševojskové armády
  2. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — 22nd Guards Combined Arms Army Conducted Exercises with Live-Fire Nizhny Novgorod News