Caspian Flotilla to retain independent status - Russian Navy

26.07.2010 The Caspian Flotilla will retain its independent status in the process of Russian military reform, a high-ranking Navy official said on Friday.

Earlier Russian media that the Caspian Flotilla could lose its independent status and would be placed under the operational command of the Russian Black Fleet.

"There will not be any structural changes," the official said.

On July 14, President Dmitry Medvedev issued a decree establishing four strategic commands in the Armed Forces and an integrated logistic support system.

Russia's six military districts will be reorganized into four with four respective strategic commands.

The Moscow and Leningrad military districts will be merged into the Western Military District (West Strategic Command) and will also include the Northern and Baltic Fleets.

The North Caucasus Military District will be changed to the South Military District (South Strategic Command) and will include the Black Sea Fleet.

The Volga-Urals Military District and the western part of the Siberian Military District will be merged to form the Central Military District (Center Strategic Command).

The remaining part of the Siberian Military District will be merged with the Far East Military District into the East Military District (East Strategic Command) and will include the Pacific Fleet.