Russian Army
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| Russian Army | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Russian Army |
| Native name | Сухопутные войска Российской Федерации |
| Caption | Flag of the Russian Ground Forces |
| Start date | 1992 |
| Country | Russian Federation |
| Branch | Russian Ground Forces |
| Type | Army |
| Role | Land warfare |
| Size | ~280,000 active personnel (2024 estimate) |
| Command structure | Ministry of Defence (Russia) |
| Garrison | Moscow |
| Garrison label | Main Staff |
| Battles | First Chechen War, Second Chechen War, Russo-Georgian War, War in Donbas, Russian military intervention in Syria, 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Commander1 | Vladimir Putin |
| Commander1 label | Supreme Commander-in-Chief |
| Commander2 | General of the Army Oleg Salyukov |
| Commander2 label | Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces |
Russian Army. As the principal land warfare branch of the Russian Armed Forces, it is tasked with defending territorial integrity and conducting ground operations. Tracing its lineage to the Imperial Russian Army and the Soviet Army, it was formally reconstituted following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The army is a key instrument of state power, heavily involved in contemporary conflicts and undergoing significant modernization.
History
The modern force's origins lie in the Imperial Russian Army, established by Peter the Great and tested in conflicts like the Great Northern War and the Napoleonic Wars. It was succeeded by the Red Army, founded by Leon Trotsky after the October Revolution, which achieved victory in the Russian Civil War and the Great Patriotic War. Following the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation inherited the bulk of the Soviet Army's formations, with the current army officially established by a 1992 decree from Boris Yeltsin. Its post-Soviet history has been defined by the First Chechen War, the Second Chechen War, and a prolonged period of reform aimed at creating a more professional and mobile force.
Organization and structure
The army is subdivided into several military districts, primarily the Western Military District, Southern Military District, Central Military District, and Eastern Military District. Its main combat arms include Motorized Infantry, Tank Forces, Artillery, Air Defence Troops, and Army Aviation. The primary maneuver units are combined arms armies, which integrate brigades and regiments of various arms. Key strategic commands include the 1st Guards Tank Army, reactivated in 2014, and the 20th Guards Combined Arms Army. The Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) operate as a separate branch but work closely with army units.
Personnel and training
Personnel consists of a mix of contract soldiers (professional volunteers) and conscripts serving one-year terms, with ongoing efforts to increase the proportion of professionals. Officer training is conducted at prestigious academies like 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. The army places strong emphasis on large-scale strategic exercises, such as Zapad and Vostok, to test readiness and interoperability.
Equipment and technology
The army fields a vast and diverse arsenal, from modern systems to large stocks of Soviet-era equipment. Main battle tanks include the upgraded T-72, T-80, and the newer T-90 and T-14 Armata. Infantry fighting vehicles are led by the BMP-3 and the Kurganets-25. Artillery systems range from the 2S19 Msta self-propelled howitzer to multiple rocket launchers like the Tornado and the 9K720 Iskander short-range ballistic missile system. Modernization priorities include digital command and control networks, GLONASS-guided munitions, and increased use of unmanned combat aerial vehicles, such as the Orlan-10.
Modern conflicts and operations
Since 2014, the army has been extensively engaged in active combat. It played a central role in the annexation of Crimea and the subsequent War in Donbas, where its involvement was often denied by the Kremlin. The Russian military intervention in Syria, beginning in 2015, saw army advisors, special forces, and artillery units deployed in support of the Syrian Armed Forces. Its largest commitment since World War II is the ongoing 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, where it has executed major offensives in regions like Donbas, Kharkiv Oblast, and Kherson Oblast, suffering significant personnel and material losses.
Role in Russian society and politics
The army is a central pillar of state identity and is heavily promoted through state media and patriotic education programs like the Yunarmiya. Key events such as the Victory Day Parades on Red Square showcase military might and link the modern force to the Soviet victory in World War II. Politically, the army's leadership, including the Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu, holds significant influence, and its performance directly impacts the domestic standing of Vladimir Putin. Veterans' organizations, such as the Russian Union of Afghanistan Veterans, also represent a notable constituency.