President of Russia Vladimir Putin has signed an Executive Order whereby the Northern Fleet shall become an independent military-administrative entity.

"The following military-administrative division of the Russian Federation shall be established starting January 1, 2021… <…> the Northern Fleet within the administrative boundaries of the Republic of Komi, Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions and Nenets Autonomous Area," the document states.

So, for the first time in Russian history, a fleet has been equated with a military district. Earlier, the Ministry of Defense noted that this novelty will, among other things, make it possible to "improve interaction <…> in solving defense tasks in the strategic Arctic area."

The Northern Fleet was detached from the Western Military District on December 1, 2014. It served as the basis for setting up the United Strategic Command in the Arctic reinforced by personnel and military equipment from the Western, Central and Eastern Military districts located in the Arctic area. At present, it is a joint strategic command of the Russian Armed Forces protecting national interests both in the Arctic and other areas of the world ocean.