Ground Forces (Russia)

Ground Forces (Russia). The Ground Forces of the Russian Federation constitute the land warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, forming its largest and most historically significant component. Tracing their institutional lineage to the Imperial Russian Army and the Soviet Army, they were officially re-established following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1992. The force is tasked with repelling aggression on land, securing national territory, and protecting Russia's interests, and has been deployed in conflicts from the Caucasus to Syria and Ukraine.

History

The modern Ground Forces were formed in May 1992 by decree of Boris Yeltsin, inheriting the bulk of the personnel and formations from the Soviet Army stationed on Russian soil. Their early history was defined by the traumatic First Chechen War and Second Chechen War, which exposed severe deficiencies in training, morale, and equipment. A period of reform began under Minister of Defence Sergei Ivanov, aiming to create a more professional, mobile force. The Russo-Georgian War of 2008, while a military victory, further highlighted obsolescence in command structures and communications, catalyzing the ambitious Serdyukov reforms and subsequent modernization programs. Their operational experience expanded significantly with the Russian military intervention in Syria and, most extensively, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Organization

The Ground Forces are organized into several military districts, primarily the Western Military District, Southern Military District, Central Military District, and Eastern Military District. The main combat formations are combined arms armies, such as the 1st Guards Tank Army and the 58th Combined Arms Army, which integrate various arms and services. These armies typically comprise motorized rifle and tank brigades, alongside supporting artillery brigades, air defense units, and engineer formations. Separate operational-strategic commands, like the Joint Strategic Command North, manage forces in critical regions. The elite Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) and Russian Strategic Rocket Forces are separate branches, though they operate in close coordination with the Ground Forces.

Equipment

The Ground Forces operate a vast and mixed inventory of Soviet-era and modern Russian-designed equipment. Main battle tanks include the legacy T-72, T-80, and T-90, alongside the newer T-14 Armata. Core infantry fighting vehicles are the BMP-2, BMP-3, and the BTR-82A. Artillery systems range from towed pieces like the 2A65 Msta-B to self-propelled howitzers such as the 2S19 Msta-S and 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV, supplemented by massive rocket artillery like the BM-21 Grad, BM-27 Uragan, and BM-30 Smerch. The force also fields a wide array of anti-tank guided missiles, man-portable air-defense systems, and electronic warfare systems like the Krasukha (electronic warfare system).

Personnel and training

Personnel consist of a mix of conscripts, serving one-year terms under Conscription in Russia, and volunteer contract soldiers. A major reform goal has been to increase the proportion of professional contract personnel, especially in frontline units. Officer training is conducted at higher military academies such as the Moscow Higher Military Command School and the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Enlisted and non-commissioned officer training occurs at dedicated training centers and within units. Large-scale exercises like Vostok and Kavkaz are regularly held to practice mobilization and combined arms operations, though the war in Ukraine has become the primary training ground for a generation of personnel.

Recent developments and modernization

The ongoing 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has become the defining event for the Ground Forces, testing their doctrine, equipment, and personnel under large-scale conventional warfare conditions. This conflict has accelerated field modifications and ad-hoc adaptations, while also driving high-tempo losses that have forced a reliance on older stored equipment. Prior modernization efforts under the State Armament Programme, aimed at fielding systems like the T-14 Armata, Kurganets-25, and advanced Ratnik infantry gear, have been slowed or redirected. Current developments focus on reinforcing artillery and drone capabilities, addressing vulnerabilities to Western-supplied systems like the HIMARS and FGM-148 Javelin, and attempting to reconstitute degraded units through expanded conscription and recruitment.

Category:Military of Russia Russia