In a move that has raised concerns among NATO member states, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed two decrees on February 26, officially re-establishing the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts.
This significant development marks a major effort by the Kremlin to restructure and reform the Russian military, with implications that go beyond the country’s borders.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has analysed these actions, pointing out that the creation of the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts serves two parallel objectives.
Firstly, it supports Moscow’s efforts to consolidate control over Russian operations in Ukraine. Secondly, it appears to be part of a larger strategy in preparation for a potential large-scale conventional war against NATO in the future.
The re-established Leningrad Military District will now run along NATO’s northeastern border, while the Moscow Military District will border northeastern Ukraine and Poland.
The ISW wrote: “Putin previously claimed that it was necessary to create the LMD after Finland joined NATO in 2023, signalling the Kremlin’s clear intent to use the LMD to posture against NATO.”
This strategic positioning allows Russia to simultaneously posture against NATO and streamline command and control for potential military operations in Ukraine.
Notably, this territory was previously under the jurisdiction of the Western Military District, formed in 2010 through a merger of the two original districts.
The ISW reports that Putin’s decision to create the Leningrad Military District was allegedly prompted by Finland’s accession to NATO in 2023. The move is seen as a clear signal of the Kremlin’s intent to use the LMD to posture against NATO.
Meanwhile, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service has issued a warning regarding the security situation in Europe, stressing that the near future’s stability depends on Ukraine’s ability, with the support of its allies, to resist Russia’s invasion.
The think tank also highlights the Kremlin’s initiation of “information operations” against Moldova, the Baltic states, Denmark, and Finland. The concern is that these actions may be aimed at creating conditions similar to those preceding the invasion of Ukraine.
