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

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.

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.

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

Military Life
of 1979-1991

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.