Order of Battle: Russian 58th Army

They fought in the 2008 South Ossetia war and the Second Chechen War, and headquartered in Vladikavkaz

Plenty of rumors persist about who these guys are, and that they've openly employed criminals and thugs in their units. One thing is for sure, the Georgians don't like 'em much. After all, the 58th looted their military depots back in 2008.

The troopers of Russia's 58th Army, fresh from chasing their US-trained Georgian opponents out of South Ossetia, are just in love with their NATO-issue loot.
'Check out this war trophy,' a T-62 tank commander named Viktor proudly pointed out to a Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa reporter. 'A real NATO-standard bayonet!'
Russia's soldiers currently occupying the Gori district of northern Georgia - abandoned by the Georgian army without a shot - are festooned with personal military kit previously owned by their enemy Georgia, whose government is intent on joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Some soldiers, like Viktor, chose to obtain just a souvenir. One of the most popular formerly Georgian military items now in Russian hands is a spiffy black-handled knife.
Viktor's mates said the weapon, sometimes issued in a snappy leg holster, is suitable for locking onto a US M-16 automatic rifle sold to Georgia, and holds a great edge.

In 2009, Russian battle plans for the 58th army were leaked to the press:

On April 15th Russia's 58th army received instructions of the General Headquarters of Russia's Ministry of Defense on how to proceed in completely occupying Georgia.
An informed source with Georgia's special services told the Georgian Media News agency that there is a high probability that military actions against Georgia will resume and that if an order to that effect is issued elements of the 58th army must deploy in accordance with a specific plan.
A portion of this plan was leaked to Media News.
131st and 205th brigades must attack the town of Zugdidi. Once military action is commenced, 135th motorized infantry regiment will begin advancing in the direction of Zalendzhiha-Chkhorozku (regional centers in Western Georgia), while elements of 33rd and 34th mountain brigade will attempt to take Svanetia.
The occupation of Poti has been assigned to the 19th division.
In the event of success the aforementioned military units will be reinforced with 429th regiment, 292nd artillery regiment, 141th tank platoon, 1415th multiple missile launcher battalion and 70th guards motorized infantry regiment which will attack in the direction of Senaki (which the headquarters of the 58th army expects to be the focal point of the decisive battle of the campaign), from there they will continued their attack towards Samtredia.
If successful, this group will be backed by elements of 72nd motorized infantry regiment and 50th guards regiment that will be tasked with capturing Kutaisi.
It is planned that the aforementioned Russian troops that are currently concentrated in Abkhazia will engage the 2nd, 3rd and 5th infantry brigades of the Georgian armed forces and the marine platoon stationed in Batumi.
The same informed source reports that the elements of the 58th army and the 76th para regiment currently stationed in the Zkhinvali region have been given the following instructions:
693rd infantry regiment and 42nd division are to move out of Akhalgori to try and block the perimeter along Tbilisi-Igoeti and Mzkheta-Kaspi. 136th regiment will be redeployed in this region as well.
The 76th Pskov para division is to concentrate at Khetagurovo with the task of capturing Gori and blocking the central highway.
This military group will be reinforced with the 481st regiment and 1329th anti-tank battalion.
It is expected these military units will be fighting against the 1st and 4th brigades of the Georgian military, SWAT teams of the Georgian police and local militia.
The same informed source reports that the final stage of the invasion will be the capture of Tbilisi. The details of this last section of the plan are not yet known.
The source stressed that the existence of this plan does not mean that a war between Russia and Georgia is imminent.
Yet the fact that Russian troops are concentrating in Abkhazia and in the Zkhinvali region and that the general headquarters of the Russian MOD has issued such instructions to the 58th army is quite alarming in itself.

MTOE from Wikipedia


By: Brant