Russian Ground Forces

Russian Ground Forces
Unit name	Russian Ground Forces
Native name	Сухопутные войска Российской Федерации
Caption	Flag of the Russian Ground Forces
Start date	1992
Country	Russian Federation
Branch	Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	~280,000 active personnel (2024 estimate)
Command structure	Ministry of Defence (Russia)
Garrison	Moscow
Garrison label	Main Command
Current commander	Army General Oleg Salyukov
Notable commanders	Pavel Grachev, Anatoly Kvashnin
Identification symbol	75px
Identification symbol label	Emblem

Russian Ground Forces. They are the land warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, tracing their official formation to 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. As the largest component of Russia's military, they are responsible for defending territorial integrity and conducting offensive land operations. The forces are organized into military districts, combined arms armies, and various specialized brigades and divisions, with their main command headquartered in Moscow.

History

The modern forces directly descend from the Soviet Army, inheriting its structure, traditions, and much of its equipment after the Belavezha Accords. Key early developments included the painful reorganization during the First Chechen War, which exposed severe deficiencies. The Second Chechen War saw improved performance under commanders like Vladimir Shamanov. Significant reforms were initiated following the poor showing in the Russo-Georgian War of 2008, leading to the "Serdyukov reforms" aimed at creating a more mobile, professional force. This historical evolution is deeply connected to institutions like the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia and figures such as Anatoly Serdyukov and Valery Gerasimov.

Organization

The primary organizational framework consists of four Military districts of Russia: the Western Military District, Southern Military District, Central Military District, and Eastern Military District. Each district contains multiple combined arms armies, such as the 1st Guards Tank Army and the 58th Combined Arms Army. The structure includes dedicated tank, motorized rifle, artillery, and airborne units, alongside specialized branches like the Russian Engineer Troops and Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops. Strategic command resides with the Main Command of the Ground Forces in Moscow.

Equipment

The inventory is a mix of Soviet-era and modernized systems. Main battle tanks include the T-72, upgraded T-72B3, T-80, and the newer T-90 and T-14 Armata. Infantry fighting vehicles are led by the BMP-2, BMP-3, and the Kurganets-25. Artillery systems range from the 2S19 Msta self-propelled howitzer to multiple rocket launchers like the BM-21 Grad and TOS-1. The forces also deploy a wide array of anti-tank and air defense systems, such as the Kornet and the 9K333 Verba.

Personnel and training

Personnel consists of a mix of conscripts serving one-year terms and volunteer contract soldiers. A major push since the 2010s has aimed to increase the proportion of professional contract personnel. Officer training is conducted at prestigious academies like the Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy. Enlisted and non-commissioned officer training occurs at dedicated training centers and within units, with large-scale exercises like Kavkaz and Zapad serving as key readiness evaluations.

Modernization and reforms

The post-2008 modernization drive, often called the "Gerasimov" reforms, focused on creating permanent readiness brigades, improving C4ISR capabilities, and procuring new equipment under the State Armament Programme. This involved fielding systems like the Armata Universal Combat Platform, the Bumerang APC, and advanced drones. Reforms also streamlined the command structure, reducing the number of officers and abolishing the divisional-level organization in favor of brigades, though some divisions like the 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division were later reconstituted.

Deployments and conflicts

Beyond permanent deployments within Russia and disputed regions like Crimea, the forces have been extensively deployed abroad. They formed the core of the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war, supporting the Syrian Armed Forces. A massive buildup preceded the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, with ground forces leading operations in theaters like the Battle of Kyiv, the Battle of Mariupol, and the Battle of Bakhmut. They have also been stationed as peacekeepers in regions such as Nagorno-Karabakh following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and maintain a presence in Transnistria and South Ossetia.

Category:Russian Ground Forces Russia Category:Military of Russia