Southern Military District (SMD) was established on October 4, 2010 in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 20, 2010 «On the military-administrative division of the Russian Federation» on the basis of the North Caucasian Military District (NCMD). It also includes the Black Sea Fleet, the Caspian Flotilla and the 4th Air Force and Air Defence Command.

The NCMD was established by the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of May 4, 1918 in the territories of the Stavropol’, Black Sea, Dagestanian provinces, the Cossack regions - Don, Kuban and Terek. The order of the Revolutionary Military Council (RMC) of the Southern Front of October 3, 1918 renamed the Red Army of the North Caucasus into the 11th Army. In November 1919 on the base on the Horsed Corps the 1st Cavalry Army was created under S.M. Budyonny.

The Caucasian Front was disbanded after the Civil War according to the order of the Republic’s Revolutionary Military Council of May 4, 1921, the Administration and the Staff of the NCMD (in the city of Rostov-on-Don) were reestablished. In the years of military reform (1924-1928) the District created a network of military schools for preparation of military personnel. The troops received new models of weapons and equipment, which were managed by personnel. In the prewar years, the NCMD was one of the most advanced Military Districts.

From the early days of the Great Patriotic War (in the territory of the Soviet Union – the main and decisive part of the whole World War II) the warriors of the 19th Army, formed in May-June 1941 from the servicemen of the North Caucasian Military District, fought bravely and steadfastly against the Nazis. In late June – early July the 50th Kuban and the 53rd Stavropol Cavalry Divisions were formed in a few days. In late July, these formations entered the Western Front. The NCMD became a smithy of military personnel.

From October 1941 the Administration of the NCMD was stationed in the city of Armavir, and from July 1942 – in the city of Ordzhonikidze (now – Vladikavkaz), it prepared draft reinforcements for the active Fronts. In early August of that year, the Administration of the NCMD with the newly formed units and formations was relocated to the city of Dusheti (Georgia) and subjected to the Commander of the Transcaucasian Front. On August 20, 1942 the NCMD was abolished and its Administration was transformed into the Administration on formation and manning of the Transcaucasian Front.

Key events during the second half of 1942 and first half of 1943 at the Soviet-German front were turned around within the territory of the North Caucasian Military District. There were two great battles: the Stalingrad battle (July 17, 1942 – February 2, 1943) and the battle for the Caucasus (July 25, 1942 – October 9, 1943).

After the Great Patriotic War, during the Armed Forces’ transition to a peacetime posture the Order of the People's Commissar of Defence of July 9, 1945 established in the North Caucasus three Military Districts: Don, Kuban’ and Stavropol’ ones. In the city of Rostov-on-Don the Staff of the Don Military District was located. In 1946 it received its former name – the North Caucasian one. Working for reorganization, arrangement of formations and units, restoration of the District’s damaged infrastructure began. In 1968, the NCMD was awarded the Order of Red Banner for its great contribution to strengthening the defensive might of the state and progress in combat training.

The NCMD’s troops played a decisive role in defeating the illegal armed groups during the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. For displaying courage and heroism 43 servicemen of the NCMD were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. In recognition for the military merits of the District’s servicemen the RF Defence Minister’s Order of August 17, 2001 № 367 established heraldic symbols for the North Caucasus Military District: the standard of the Commander of the NCMD, the NCMD’s emblem and the identification badge of servicemen «For service in the Caucasus».

In August 2008 the NCMD’s troops took part in the 5-day operation to force Georgia to peace, in a short space of time defeated the aggressor and saved the people of South Ossetia from genocide. For courage and heroism displayed during this operation the title of Hero of the Russian Federation was awarded to Major Denis V. Vetchinov (posthumously), Lieutenant-Colonel Konstantin A. Timerman, Captain Yury P. Yakovlev, and Sergeant Sergey A. Mylnikov. The Commander of the North Caucasus Military District Colonel-General Sergey Makarov was awarded the Order of St. George 4th degree, and many of his men were marked with orders of Courage, marks of distinction – St. George's Crosses 4th degree and Medals «For Courage» – for their courage, bravery and dedication shown during the performance of military duty.

The Russian military bases in the territories of South Ossetia and the Republic Abkhazia, which became parts of the District, were formed on February 1, 2009.

Currently, the troops and forces of the SMD are deployed within the administrative boundaries of two Federal Districts (Southern and North Caucasian ones) in the territories of 12 subjects of the Russian Federation. In addition, in accordance with international agreements outside the Russian Federation there are 4 military bases of the District: in South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia and the Ukraine (the city of Sevastopol’). The District’s Staff is located in the city of Rostov-on-Don.

The Commander of the SMD controls all the military formations of the Services and Arms of the RF Armed Forces stationed in the territory of the District, with the exception of the Strategic Missile Forces and the Space Forces. Operationally he controls also the military formations of the Internal Troops of the Interior Ministry, the Border Troops of the FSS, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and other Ministries and Agencies of Russia, performing tasks within the territory of the District. The main task of the troops and forces of the SMD is guaranteeing military security of the southern boundaries of Russia.