Military Life
 of the Russian Federation
(1992-2002)

 

Russian Military Life

This section will feature pictures, history, stories, and other facets of Russian military life during the turbulent period between 1992 and 2002.

 

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The Russian Federation

 

 

Russian Military Statistics

The Russian military was reduced dramatically in size due to both the breakup of the Soviet Union and the following recession.  Many military units were transferred to control of the former Soviet republics where they were based.  These formed the core of these nation's military forces.

The vast majority of these troop reductions came from the reduction in conscripts serving in the armed forces.  To offset this loss, the Russian Federation introduced the notion of conscript service.

Year

Strength of Armed Forces

2002 (1)

988,100

1999 (2)

1,004,100

1994 (3)

1,714,000

   

 

The Russian Soldier

The army of the Russian Federation gradually declined to less than half of its former size.  At the same time, it began phasing out large amounts of obsolete equipment which they were unable to maintain.  The numbers below illustrate this decline.

  1994  (3) 1999  (1) 2002 (2)
Total Personnel: 780,000 348,000 321,000
Conscripts: 450,000 185,000 190,000

 

 

The Russian Sailor

Naval forces of the Russian Federation also declined dramatically following the break up of the Soviet Union.  The bulk of these losses were from a reduction in the number of conscript sailors.  Many of the older ships and submarines of the Soviet fleets were placed in long term storage where many simply rusted in port.  There were few long range training exercises and virtually no distant foreign deployments.  The only overseas base of note was the Syrian facility in Tartous, which went into decline for a time, before eventually restored in the following decade.

 

1994  (3)

1999  (1) 2002 (2)
Total Personnel: 295,000 171,500 171,500
Naval Aviation: 45,000 35,000 35,000
Naval Infantry: ~12,000 9,500 7,500
Coastal Defense: ~17,500 5,000 2,000
Strategic Forces: ~13,000 13,000 11,000
Conscripts: ~180,000 16,000 16,000

 

 

Women in the Military

Statistics on the number of women serving in the military forces of the Russian Federation show the same decline in numbers seen across the military.

One noteworthy development that occurred in the 1990's was that women officers were finally allowed into the Higher Military Academies, opening the door to the senior officer ranks.

Still, women were prohibited from serving in combat roles or aboard ships.  Most served in the administrative and medical professions.

Year

Number of Personnel
2002 (2) 100,000
2000 (1) 145,000
1994 ---

 

 

Military Life
of 1979-1991

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The Russian Federation

Military Life
from 2003-2015

 

Sources Cited

(1) The Military Balance 1999-2000, London: Oxford University Press, 2000 Print.

(2) The Military Balance 2002-2003, London: Oxford University Press, 2003 Print.

(3) The Military Balance 1994-1995, London: Oxford University Press, 2005 Print.