Russia’s ten combined arms armies have new commanders (with one exception) since they were noted here in 2011.
In the first half of last year, General-Major Gurulev in the Southern MD’s 58th Army was investigated for “abetting” a crime by a former superior, Nikolay Pereslegin. In 2005, Pereslegin reportedly “exceeded his authority” by using the labor of two soldiers while attending the GSA in Moscow — colloquially known as a “soldier slavery” case in Russian media. For his part, Gurulev is suspected of covering the soldiers’ absence and Pereslegin’s tracks with paperwork. Not clear where the case stands, but Gurulev remains in command of the 58th.
Most previous army commanders moved to deputy MD commander slots.
Here’s an updated map of Russia’s armies.
Ten Armies
| Army | Headquarters | MD / OSK | Commander |
| 6th CAA | Agalatovo | Western | General-Major Sergey Kuralenko |
| 20th CAA | Nizhnyy Novgorod | Western | General-Major Aleksandr Lapin |
| 49th CAA | Stavropol | Southern | General-Major Sergey Sevryukov |
| 58th CAA | Vladikavkaz | Southern | General-Major Andrey Gurulev |
| 2nd CAA | Samara | Central | General-Major Igor Seritskiy |
| 41st CAA | Novosibirsk | Central | General-Major Khasan Kaloyev |
| 36th CAA | Ulan-Ude | Eastern | General-Major Mikhail Teplinskiy |
| 29th CAA | Chita | Eastern | General-Lieutenant Aleksandr Romanchuk |
| 35th CAA | Belogorsk | Eastern | General-Lieutenant Sergey Solomatin |
| 5th CAA | Ussuriysk | Eastern | General-Major Aleksey Salmin |
Russian Defense Policy 
Not sure why there are two Armies (29th and 36th) in the Transbaikal area when there are only enough assets for one Army. Appears to me, the Russian Army would be better served with one of these HQ’s assigned to the Pacific Coastal areas.
It’s a good question…not sure there’s a single rational explanation that can be given. First, it’s quite a thin line of ground forces spread across an immense frontier, isn’t it? Second, for all the talk of not worrying about China, they might keep Russia’s Far East from being cut off and encircled one day. Third, it’s about where the armies have been located traditionally, and more practically, where some existing support infrastructure is available. Fourth, they seem to have made some progress moving away from skeletal mobilization bases, i.e. both armies are much more full-up today than they were through most of the Russian and Soviet periods. Some short answers to a complex issue you raise.