Moscow Expands Military Presence in Armenia Amid Rising Tensions with Azerbaijan

Russia is rapidly reinforcing its military base in Gyumri, Armenia, as part of what Ukrainian intelligence sees as a broader Kremlin strategy to exert military and political pressure across the South Caucasus, The Gaze reports.

According to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (HUR), personnel are being deployed from Russia’s Rostov and Volgograd regions, as well as the occupied territory of Crimea. In parallel, Moscow is actively recruiting volunteers from ethnic minorities in the North Caucasus, particularly from North Ossetia and Adygea.

“Russia’s deployment of troops in Armenia is part of a broader Kremlin strategy aimed at destabilizing global security. Along with fueling interethnic conflict, Moscow is increasing its military footprint in the Caucasus. The worsening of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan appears to have been premeditated,” said Andriy Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.

Despite these developments, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry strongly rejected speculation that its territory could be used to launch attacks against neighboring countries.

“In response to fictional reports in the press, the Republic of Armenia reiterates its principled position that the territory of Armenia cannot be used by third countries to conduct military actions against any neighboring state,” said MFA spokesperson Ani Badalyan.

As The Gaze previously reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced strong support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty amid deepening diplomatic tensions between Baku and Moscow.