Ministry of Defence (Russia)

Ministry of Defence (Russia). The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation is the primary government body responsible for administering and commanding the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Established in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it succeeded the Ministry of Defence (Soviet Union) and is headquartered in Moscow on Arbat Square. The ministry exercises its authority through the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and is a central pillar of the Government of Russia's national security apparatus.

History

The modern ministry was formally created by decree of President Boris Yeltsin in May 1992, inheriting the structure and much of the personnel of the Soviet defence establishment. Its early years were marked by the challenges of the Chechen Wars, significant budget cuts during the economic turmoil of the 1990s, and a complex relationship with the newly independent states of the Commonwealth of Independent States. A major period of reform and modernization began under the long tenure of Minister Sergei Shoigu, who succeeded Anatoly Serdyukov in 2012 following a corruption scandal. The ministry's role expanded dramatically with Russia's military interventions in the Syrian civil war starting in 2015 and the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022, which has defined its contemporary operational focus and international standing.

Structure and leadership

The ministry is led by the Minister of Defence (Russia), a civilian post held since May 2024 by Andrei Belousov, who succeeded Sergei Shoigu. The principal military commander is the Chief of the General Staff (Russia), Valery Gerasimov, who serves as First Deputy Minister. Other key deputies include the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence (Russia) and heads of various directorates. The ministry's central apparatus includes numerous main directorates, such as the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), the Main Military-Political Directorate, and the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. It also oversees several subordinate federal services, including the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.

Functions and responsibilities

The ministry's core function is the formulation and implementation of state policy in the realm of military doctrine and defense. It is responsible for the administrative control, logistical support, financing, and development of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. This encompasses organizing mobilization, managing defense industry procurement through entities like Rostec, conducting military exercises such as Vostok, and overseeing military education at institutions like the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia. The ministry also coordinates international military cooperation, including operations in Syria and partnerships within organizations like the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Budget and expenditures

The ministry's budget is part of the federal budget approved by the State Duma and is classified as part of National Defense spending. Following the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and especially after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, defense expenditures have risen sharply, consuming a significant portion of state revenue. A substantial part of the budget is allocated to the State Armament Programme, funding modernization of strategic forces like the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM and platforms such as the Su-57 fighter jet. Procurement is heavily directed through state corporations like United Aircraft Corporation and Almaz-Antey, with reported expenditures often obscured due to wartime secrecy and the reallocation of funds from other sectors.

Military districts and forces

Operational command of the armed forces is exercised through a structure of military districts and naval fleets. The current districts are the Western Military District, Southern Military District, Central Military District, and Eastern Military District, each commanding ground, air, and naval formations within its territory. The ministry directly controls the service branches: the Russian Ground Forces, Russian Aerospace Forces (which include the Russian Air Force and Russian Space Forces), and the Russian Navy, including the Black Sea Fleet. It also commands independent branches: the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces, the Airborne Forces (VDV), and the Special Operations Forces.

Controversies and criticism

The ministry has been the subject of significant international criticism and controversy, particularly regarding its conduct during the Second Chechen War, the War in Donbas, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where it has been accused of war crimes in incidents like the Bucha massacre. Internally, it has faced allegations of pervasive corruption, as highlighted in cases involving former minister Anatoly Serdyukov and the Oboronservis scandal. The ministry's performance in Ukraine has drawn criticism from figures within the Russian security establishment, including from the leadership of the Wagner Group, and has been scrutinized by international bodies like the International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants for officials including Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov.