Russia bolstering combat capability of Rosgvardia - UK intel

The UK Ministry of Defense said this in its intelligence update published on the social platform X, Ukrinform reports.

“Rosgvardia, the Russian National Guard, is bolstering its resources and personnel as a result of upheavals in Russia’s internal security scene from the war in Ukraine. Elements of private military company Wagner Group came under Rosgvardia from October 2023,” the report says.  

The UK Ministry of Defense added that the "Vostok" battalion of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) joined Rosgvardia on 3 January 2024.

“Moscow has also been advancing its efforts to dissolve the DNR’s "Kaskad" group, which specialises in drone operations, and subordinate parts of it to Rosgvardia,” the report says.  

It is noted that in July 2023, the Russian State Duma authorised Rosgvardiya to employ heavier weaponry.

“New capabilities, along with its augmentation with experienced veterans from other groups, will likely represent a significant increase in combat effectiveness,” the report says.

As Ukrinform reported, in December, members of Russia’s State Duma passed in the third and final reading a bill allowing Rosgvardia to have its own voluntary units and punish criticism of them.