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| 8th Guards Combined Arms Army | |
|---|---|
 Great emblem | |
| Active | 2017–present |
| Country |  Russia (2017–present) |
| Branch |  Russian Ground Forces |
| Type | Combined arms |
| Size | Army |
| Part of | Southern Military District |
| Garrison/HQ | Novocherkassk |
| Decorations |  Guards |
The8th Guards Combined Arms Army (abbreviated8th GCAA) is anarmy of theRussian Ground Forces, headquartered inNovocherkassk,Rostov Oblast, within Russia′sSouthern Military District, that was formed in 2017. Military Unit в/ч 61877.
The formation of the new 8th Combined Arms Army began in 2017; the first stage was intended to be completed in June 2017.[1] The 8th Combined Arms Army as of 2021 includes:
Support to the army is to be provided by fighter aircraft, bombers and ground attack aircraft (primarily drawn from the4th Air and Air Defence Forces Army) and, in certain areas, by ships and submarines of theBlack Sea Fleet of theRussian Navy.[1]
Units from the 8th Guards Army participated in theRussian invasion of Ukraine under the command of Lieutenant GeneralAndrei Sychevoi.[11][12]
According to experts, the 8th Combined Arms Army was intended to be a centrepiece of theSouthern Military District in the southern European part of the Russian Federation, protecting from threats in that region.
Ukraine, the United States, and some analysts describe the1st (Donetsk) and2nd (Luhansk) Army Corps of theRussian separatist forces in Donbas, Ukraine, as under the command of the 8th CAA HQ.[13][14][15][16] As of 2021, subordinate units within these corps are said to include: 4 Motorized Rifle Brigades, 2 Motorized Rifle Regiments, 2 special forces battalions, 1 tank battalion, 1 reconnaissance battalion and 1 artillery brigade (1st Corps) and 3 Motorized Rifle Brigades, 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment, 1 tank battalion, 1 reconnaissance battalion and 1 artillery brigade (2nd Corps).[5]
Ukrainian officials reported that the commander of the army's150th Motor Rifle Division, Major GeneralOleg Mityaev, was killed on 15 March in theSiege of Mariupol.[17] Army commander Lieutenant GeneralAndrey Mordvichev[18] was claimed by Ukrainian intelligence to have beenkilled in action nearKherson airport inChornobaivka on March 18, 2022 during the2022 Chornobaivka attacks.[19][20] This was proven wrong when a video showing Mordvichev andRamzan Kadyrov was released ten days later.[21] On 16 April, Russian officials admitted the death of army deputy commander Major GeneralVladimir Petrovich Frolov in combat in Ukraine.[22]
The 8th Combined Arms Army has been involved in the2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive around the city ofMarinka.[23]
On August 5, 2024, by Decree of thePresident of the Russian Federation, the army was awarded the honorary title of "Guards" for mass heroism and bravery, fortitude and courage shown by the army personnel in combat operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts.[24]
On June 30, 2025, the commander, Ruslan Goryachkin, and "dozens" of officers of the 8th Guards was killed in an alleged UkrainianStorm Shadow missile strike targeting a headquarters in occupied Donetsk.[25][26][27]
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