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This article lists military bases of Russia abroad. The majority of Russia's military bases and facilities are located in former Soviet republics; which in Russian political parlance is termed the "near abroad".
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many of the early-warning radar stations ended up in former Soviet republics. As of 2020, only the radar in Belarus is still rented by Russia.[1][2]
In 2003, Kommersant newspaper published a map of the Russian military presence abroad.[3] In 2018, it was reported that Russia operates at least 21 significant military facilities overseas.[4]
| Country | Details | No. of personnel |
|---|---|---|
 Armenia |
Russian 102nd Military Base in Gyumri and the Russian 3624th Airbase in Erebuni Airport near Yerevan. | Est. 3,214[5] to 5,000[6] |
 Belarus |
Russian military presence in Belarus: The Baranavichy Radar Station,[4][7][8] the Vilyeyka naval communication centre near Vilyeyka and a joint Air Force and Air Defense training center in Baranovichi[9] | Est. 1,500 |
 Georgia Abkhazia(disputed) |
Following the Russo-Georgian War in 2008, Russia has maintained a large presence in the partially recognised states of Abkhazia[10] and South Ossetia. The Russian 7th Military Base is located in Abkhazia and hosts approximately 4,500 personnel.[11] | Est. 4,500 |
Georgia South Ossetia(disputed) |
Following the Russo-Georgian War in 2008, Russia has maintained a large presence in the partially recognised states of Abkhazia[10] and South Ossetia. The Russian 4th Military Base is located in South Ossetia and hosts approximately 3,500 personnel. | Est. 3,500 |
 Kazakhstan |
The Baikonur Cosmodrome is rented to Russia but is now under civilian administration.[12][13] The Sary Shagan anti-ballistic missile testing range and the Kambala air base are also operated by Russia.[4][14][15] | |
 Kyrgyzstan |
The 999th Air Base (military unit 20022), the 954th test base of anti-submarine weapons (military unit 87366), the 338th naval communication centre (military unit 45682) and the 17th radio-seismic laboratory of the seismic service of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.[4][16] | |
 Moldova Transnistria(disputed) |
Russia maintains an operational group of forces in the Transnistria separatist region of Moldova for peacekeeping purposes and to guard an ammunition depot at Cobasna.[17] | Est. 1,500 |
 Syria |
Russian naval facility in Tartus, Khmeimim Air Base, Tiyas Military Airbase,[18][19] Shayrat Airbase.[18][20][21] | Est. 7,000 |
 Tajikistan |
Russian 201st Military Base, Okno space surveillance station. | Est. 7,500 |
 Ukraine Russia(disputed) |
Sevastopol Naval Base of the Black Sea Fleet, in Crimea,[5] rented by Russia prior to the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014.[4] In July 2015, Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Crimea had been fully integrated into Russia[22] so the base in Sevastopol is no longer classed by Russia as overseas. However, this is contested; United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262 rejected Russia's annexation of Crimea,[23] which Russia defended by saying it was supporting the outcome of the 2014 Crimean status referendum, in which a majority voted to rejoin Russia. As of 2016, there were at least 18 Russian military facilities in Crimea.[4][24] | Est. 26,000+ |
| Country | Details |
|---|---|
 Afghanistan |
Soviet troops in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989. |
 Albania |
Pasha Liman Naval Base was used by the Soviet Navy between 1955 and 1962. |
 Austria |
Central Group of Forces from 1945 to 1955. |
 Azerbaijan |
Gabala Radar Station was rented until 2012. In 2013 the building itself was transferred to Azerbaijan,[25] but the equipment was dismantled and transported to Russia.[26] |
   Baltic states |
North Western Group of Forces from 1991 to 1994. |
 Kampuchea |
Port of Kompong Som Naval Base was used by the Soviet Navy between 1980 and 1992. |
  China |
Tuchengzi and Yingchengzi Air Bases along with Port Arthur Naval Base were used by the Soviet Navy between 1945 and 1956.
Air bases in Shanghai were used by the Soviet Air Force from 1949 to 1953. |
 Cuba |
Lourdes SIGINT station was closed in 2002. In July 2014, after Putin's visit to Cuba, there were rumors about its reactivation,[27] quickly officially denied.[citation needed] |
 Czechoslovakia |
Central Group of Forces from 1968 to 1991. |
 Ethiopia |
During the Derg, Nokra is the base of the Soviet Navy between 1977 and 1991, while the Asmara airbase was the base of the Soviet Air Forces. |
 Georgia |
In 1995, Russia and Georgia signed a 25-year agreement for rental of military bases in Vaziani, Akhalkalaki and Batumi. Due to the Rose Revolution eventually the Russian bases were liquidated by 2007,[28] with the exception of the breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. See Russia–Georgia relations. |
 East Germany |
Western Group of Forces from 1945 to 1994. |
 Finland |
Porkkala Naval Base was used by the Soviet Navy between 1944 and 1956. |
| Hanko Naval Base was used by the Soviet Navy between 1940 and 1941. | |
 North Korea |
25th Army from 1945 to 1948. |
 Hungary |
Central, then Southern Group of Forces from 1944 to 1991. |
 Kazakhstan |
The Balkhash Radar Station was removed from service in June 2020. |
 Mongolia |
Soviet troops in Mongolia from 1921 to 1927, 1939 to 1951, and 1962 to 1992. |
 Poland |
Northern Group of Forces from 1945 to 1993. |
 Romania |
Southern Group of Forces from 1944 to 1958. |
 Uzbekistan |
Karshi-Khanabad Air Base from 2006 to 2012, when Uzbekistan was part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.[29] |
 Vietnam |
Cam Ranh Air Base and Cam Ranh Naval Base were used by the Soviet Navy and the Russian Navy between 1979 and 2002. |
 South Yemen |
Socotra was used as a base by the Soviet Navy between 1976 and 1979.[30] |
| Country | Details |
|---|---|
| Georgia Abkhazia (disputed) |
An agreement was signed for the creation of a Russian naval base with the separatist Republic of Abkhazia.[31] |
 Central African Republic |
Confirmed to be building a Russian military base.[32] |
 Eritrea |
Logistics Center confirmed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.[33][34][35][32] |
 Madagascar |
Confirmed to be building a Russian military base.[32] |
 Mozambique |
Confirmed to be building a Russian military base.[32] |
 Sudan |
Confirmed to be building a Russian naval base along the Red Sea coast.[32][36] |
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