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 Headquarters
Commander1	Oleg Salyukov
Commander1 label	Commander-in-Chief
Identification symbol	75px
Identification symbol label	Emblem

Russian Ground Forces. They are the land warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Tracing their institutional lineage to the Imperial Russian Army and the Soviet Army, they are tasked with defending territorial integrity and conducting ground operations. The forces are a key component of Russia's military power, organized into military districts and comprising various combat arms and support services.

History

The modern forces were established by decree of Boris Yeltsin in May 1992, inheriting the bulk of the personnel and formations of the former Soviet Army stationed on Russian territory. The tumultuous 1990s, marked by the First Chechen War and the Second Chechen War, saw the army grapple with severe underfunding, poor morale, and organizational challenges. Reforms initiated under Vladimir Putin and then-Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu sought to professionalize the force, a process tested during the Russo-Georgian War in 2008. Subsequent modernization programs, known as the State Armament Programme, aimed to re-equip the army with new hardware prior to its large-scale deployment in the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Organization

Operational command is exercised through four Military districts of Russia: 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 subordinate units. These armies typically consist of motorized rifle brigades and divisions, tank brigades, alongside dedicated artillery, missile, air defense, and engineer brigades. Specialized branches include the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV), which operate semi-autonomously, and the Strategic Rocket Forces, a separate service branch. Key training and command institutions include the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy and the General Staff Academy (Russia).

Equipment

The inventory represents a mix of Soviet-era designs and modernized or new systems introduced post-2010. Primary main battle tanks include the modernized T-72B3, T-80BVM, and the newer T-90M, with the T-14 Armata entering limited service. Standard infantry fighting vehicles are the BMP-2 and BMP-3, alongside a vast fleet of BTR and MT-LB armored personnel carriers. Artillery systems range from towed pieces like the 2A65 Msta-B to self-propelled guns such as the 2S19 Msta-S and the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV. Multiple launch rocket systems like the BM-21 Grad, BM-27 Uragan, and TOS-1 provide heavy firepower, while missile forces operate the Iskander-M tactical ballistic system. Air defense is layered, employing systems from the man-portable 9K333 Verba to the vehicle-mounted 9K330 Tor and 9K37 Buk.

Ranks_and_Insignia

The rank system is divided between enlisted personnel, non-commissioned officers, and officers, largely continuing Soviet traditions. Enlisted ranks begin with Ryadovoy (Private) and progress to Yefreytor (Lance Corporal). Non-commissioned officer ranks include Sergeant and Starshina. The officer corps starts with Praporshchik (Warrant Officer), followed by commissioned ranks from Mladshiy Leytenant (Junior Lieutenant) up to General Armii (Army General). The highest attainable rank is Marshal of the Russian Federation, though it has not been conferred since Igor Sergeyev. Insignia are displayed on shoulder boards and sleeve patches, with distinct designs for field, everyday, and parade uniforms, governed by directives from the Ministry of Defence (Russia).

Operations

Since their formation, the forces have been continuously engaged in conflicts and military interventions. Major combat operations include the intense urban warfare of the Battle of Grozny (1999–2000) and counter-insurgency campaigns across the North Caucasus. They played a decisive role in the rapid conflict during the Russo-Georgian War, notably in the Battle of Tskhinvali. Expeditionary deployment occurred in Syria following 2015, supporting the Syrian Arab Army against various opposition groups. The largest employment since the Second World War began with the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, involving major battles like the Battle of Mariupol, the Battle of Bakhmut, and protracted frontline engagements across Donbas and southern Ukraine.

Structure

The structural hierarchy flows from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) to the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces. The forces are functionally divided into combat arms, including Motorized Rifle Troops, Tank Troops, Rocket Troops and Artillery, and Army Aviation (Russia). Combat support arms encompass Air Defense Troops (Russia), Reconnaissance, Signal Troops, and Electronic Warfare Troops. Logistics and technical support are provided by specialized services like the Railway Troops (Russia), Pipeline Troops, and Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence Troops. This structure is designed to enable combined arms operations across all potential theaters of war.

Category:Russian Ground Forces Russia Category:Military of Russia