Moscow: Russia has reassigned military personnel from its elite Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN)—responsible for managing the country’s nuclear arsenal—into active frontline combat roles in Ukraine, according to an open-source intelligence report released by Unit Observer on March 12.
Nuclear Forces Turned Infantry Troops
The report indicates that RVSN units have been identified fighting near Toretsk, a highly contested area in eastern Ukraine. OSINT findings show that the 12th Main Directorate of the RVSN, which oversees nuclear weapons storage and logistics, has been deploying personnel to the Donetsk front since at least November 2024.
Analysts tracked these movements through military deployment data and, later, obituaries of fallen soldiers, confirming their origins and affiliations with Russia’s nuclear command.
Nuclear Specialists Repurposed for Ground Combat
Further analysis reveals that the 12th Directorate is linked to the recently identified 20th Regiment, which has been operating without a clearly defined command structure in the Toretsk sector.
Subsequent confirmations connected this regiment to military unit No. 43879, a segment of the 132nd Motorized Rifle Brigade. The unit is believed to comprise troops pulled from various nuclear security and logistics divisions, including:
- Unit No. 25625 – Known as Object 1200 in Khabarovsk-47, specializing in nuclear security operations.
- Unit No. 73752 – A key technical and repair base responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure.
- Unit No. 39995 – Known as Object 644 in Irkutsk-45, linked to engineering and nuclear security support.
This reassignment of nuclear security forces to conventional infantry roles is highly unorthodox and alarming to military analysts, as it indicates Russia may be depleting critical personnel responsible for safeguarding its strategic nuclear infrastructure in favor of filling gaps on the Ukrainian front.
The first public acknowledgment of RVSN personnel being converted into combat troops dates back to July 2024, suggesting that Moscow initiated this transition much earlier in the conflict.
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NATO Concerns and Nuclear Deterrence Strategy
The redeployment of RVSN troops comes at a time when nuclear deterrence debates are intensifying across Europe. In Poland, government officials are openly advocating for the permanent stationing of U.S. nuclear weapons in the country as a direct response to Russia’s military actions.
Polish President Andrzej Duda has publicly urged U.S. President Donald Trump to establish a permanent nuclear presence in Poland, arguing that NATO’s defensive infrastructure must evolve in response to Russia’s war expansion.
“NATO’s borders moved eastward in 1999, so after 26 years, its infrastructure should move eastward as well,” Duda stated in a recent media briefing.
He also confirmed discussing the proposal with Trump adviser Keith Kellogg, emphasizing that the war in Ukraine has reshaped Eastern Europe’s security landscape.
Geopolitical Fallout and Military Strategy Shifts
Russia’s decision to redirect nuclear force personnel into ground combat suggests an urgent need for additional manpower, potentially reflecting high casualties or difficulties in maintaining experienced combat units. Meanwhile, NATO’s strategic discussions indicate a shifting nuclear policy, with Poland pushing for increased deterrence measures in direct response to Russian military expansion.
As the conflict continues, the international community is closely monitoring whether these developments signal a broader shift in nuclear security policies and military mobilization strategies for both Russia and NATO.
