22nd Army Corps

The 22nd Army Corps was a Russian military formation associated with the coastal-defence troops of the Black Sea Fleet and the Southern Military District. Its headquarters was in Simferopol, Crimea, and its subordinate units were primarily based on the Crimean Peninsula. Although its structure was military rather than commercial, the corps is treated here as an organizational entity rather than a consumer brand. The formation was created in the period following Russia's annexation of Crimea. Reference material places its establishment on 1 December 2016, while the broader reorganization of Russian forces in Crimea was implemented during 2017. The corps brought together elements of the Black Sea Fleet's coastal troops, including formations responsible for ground combat, reconnaissance, artillery, coastal missiles, air defence, and protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. One of the important subordinate formations was the 126th Coastal Defence Brigade, which had been activated from a former Ukrainian formation in December 2014 and was subsequently incorporated into the Russian order of battle. The corps' reported formations included the 127th Reconnaissance Brigade, the 126th Guards Coastal Defence Brigade, the 8th Artillery Regiment, the 15th Coastal Missile Brigade, the 1096th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, and the 4th CBRN Protection Regiment. The 126th Brigade was described as a mechanized infantry formation equipped in part with T-72B3 tanks, while the 15th Coastal Missile Brigade was associated with the 9K720 Iskander missile system. These units gave the corps a mixed mission set covering territorial defence, maneuver warfare, artillery support, reconnaissance, missile operations, and protection of Black Sea Fleet facilities. In December 2018, the corps received military colours in recognition of what Russian authorities characterized as distinguished performance on combat missions. Its command changed several times during its existence. Andrei Vladimirovich Kolotovkin was reported as commander from February 2017 until December 2018, followed by Konstantin Georgievich Kastornov until November 2020. Denis Igorevich Lyamin then commanded the formation until November 2021, when Arkady Marzoev was reported to have taken over. Marzoev was promoted to lieutenant general in December 2022. The corps became a significant Russian formation during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022. Units operating from Crimea participated in Russian military operations in southern Ukraine. Ammunition depots associated with the corps were reported struck at Chornobaivka on 14 May 2022 during a series of attacks in the Kherson area. Ukraine identified Denis Lyamin as a war crimes suspect or war criminal in connection with his reported role in the invasion; this is an allegation and designation by Ukrainian authorities, not an independent judicial finding stated in the available reference material. During the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023, the 22nd Army Corps was merged with the newly created 40th Army Corps. The resulting structure was reorganized as the 18th Combined Arms Army. Consequently, the 22nd Army Corps is no longer generally treated as an independent corps, although its personnel, subordinate units, and institutional functions continued within the successor formation. Its historical importance lies in its role as a Crimea-based coastal-defence and ground-combat formation, its integration with Black Sea Fleet forces, and its deployment in Russia's war against Ukraine.

The 22nd Army Corps emerged from Russia's military consolidation of Crimea after the peninsula was annexed by the Russian Federation. Its formal creation is dated to 1 December 2016, with the corps becoming operational within the 2017-era structure of the Black Sea Fleet's coastal troops. It was ultimately subordinate to the Southern Military District and headquartered in Simferopol. The corps was designed as a combined coastal-defence formation. Its reported order of battle included the 127th Reconnaissance Brigade in Sevastopol; the 126th Guards Coastal Defence Brigade at Perevalnoye; the 8th Artillery Regiment; the 15th Coastal Missile Brigade; the 1096th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment; and the 4th CBRN Protection Regiment. The 126th Brigade had been activated from a former Ukrainian formation in December 2014 and later became one of the corps' principal ground-combat components. Reports described it as a mechanized infantry brigade with T-72B3 tanks. The coastal missile component was associated with the 9K720 Iskander system. The corps received military colours in December 2018. Its reported commanders were Lieutenant General Andrei Kolotovkin, Lieutenant General Konstantin Kastornov, Major General Denis Lyamin, and Major General Arkady Marzoev. Lyamin was reported to have commanded during the period surrounding Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and was later designated by Ukrainian authorities as a war criminal in relation to that conflict. Marzoev assumed command in late 2021 and was promoted to lieutenant general on 7 December 2022. In February and March 2022, the corps played a role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with forces operating from Crimea toward southern Ukrainian battlefields. On 14 May 2022, ammunition depots connected with the formation were reported struck during the Chornobaivka attacks. The corps remained involved during the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2023. In the summer of 2023, the 22nd Army Corps was combined with the newly formed 40th Army Corps. The reorganization created the 18th Combined Arms Army, under which the corps' constituent capabilities continued. This merger ended the corps' existence as a distinct operational formation, although individual units and personnel were incorporated into the successor army.

1. 2023Reorganized into the 18th Combined Arms Army

   The corps was merged with the 40th Army Corps during the Ukrainian counteroffensive and incorporated into the 18th Combined Arms Army.

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2. 2022Deployment in the invasion of Ukraine

   The formation operated in southern Ukraine during Russia's full-scale invasion.

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3. 2018Military colours presented

   The corps received its colours after Russian authorities cited its performance on combat missions.

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4. 201622nd Army Corps established

   The corps was formally created on 1 December as part of Russia's military reorganization of Crimea.

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5. 2014126th Coastal Defence Brigade activated

   The 126th Coastal Defence Brigade was activated from a former Ukrainian formation and later became part of the 22nd Army Corps.

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A Crimea-based Russian military formation combining coastal defence, mechanized ground forces, artillery, reconnaissance, missile, air-defence, and CBRN-protection capabilities.

• 2022Russian invasion of Ukraine

  Southern Ukraine

  Units of the Crimea-based corps participated in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, operating from the peninsula into southern Ukrainian theatres.

  Outcome. The corps continued operating through the 2023 counteroffensive before being absorbed into the 18th Combined Arms Army.

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• 2023Merger with the 40th Army CorpsM&A

  The reorganization took place during the Ukrainian counteroffensive and reflected a broader restructuring of Russian ground forces in the southern theatre.

  What changed. The 22nd and 40th Army Corps were combined to form the 18th Combined Arms Army.

  Aftermath. The 22nd Army Corps ceased to operate as a separate corps, while its subordinate capabilities continued under the successor army.

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• 2016Creation of a Crimea-based army corpsStrategy

  Russia reorganized military forces in Crimea after the peninsula's annexation and sought a dedicated formation for coastal defence and related ground operations.

  What changed. The 22nd Army Corps was established within the Black Sea Fleet's coastal troops and the Southern Military District.

  Aftermath. The corps became the principal Crimea-based army-corps-level formation associated with the Black Sea Fleet until its later reorganization.

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• 2022Ukrainian war-crimes designation of Denis LyaminControversy

  Ukraine designated former corps commander Denis Lyamin as a war criminal in connection with his reported command role during Russia's invasion. The available material does not provide a final independent judicial determination.

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• 2023The corps is absorbed into the 18th Combined Arms Army

  During the Ukrainian counteroffensive, the 22nd Army Corps was merged with the 40th Army Corps and reorganized as part of the 18th Combined Arms Army.

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• 202222nd Army Corps participates in Russia's invasion of Ukraine

  Units connected with the Crimea-based corps took part in Russian operations in southern Ukraine after the full-scale invasion began.

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• 2022Ammunition depots linked to the corps are struck at Chornobaivka

  Ammunition depots associated with the corps were reported hit on 14 May during the 2022 attacks around Chornobaivka.

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• 2018The corps receives military colours

  The formation was presented with its colours after Russian authorities credited it with distinguished performance on combat missions.

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• 2016Formation of the 22nd Army Corps in Crimea

  The corps was established as part of Russia's post-annexation military reorganization in Crimea and became part of the Black Sea Fleet's coastal-defence structure.

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1. 22nd Army Corps (Russian Federation)
2. Russia's Military Posture: Ground Forces Order of Battle