Russian Military Reform Since the Collapse of the Soviet Union: How Effective is the Russian Military As a Fighting Force?

Publisher Marketing: "With the disintegration of the Soviet armed forces beginning in the 1990's, Russia has had to create a national military force within the context of a new political and economic environment. The Russian armed forces' difficulties in redefining and restructuring itself reflect the greater problems faced by Russian society as a whole. This paper looks at the problems faced by the Russian armed forces in this rebuilding effort, its current status as an effective fighting force and a prognosis for the future. Today, the remnants of the once-feared Soviet Red Army -- the Russian armed forces -- finds itself in crisis. Russian senior officers are faced with debilitating problems of doctrine, manning, and the sustainment of the military services across the board. The solutions to these problems are at best, uncertain, within the context of a failing Russian economy and the indecisive support of Russian political leaders. Without a major program to rehabilitate the armed forces, beginning with a clear definition of its role followed by the influx of sufficient funding for operational changes and basic living conditions for its service members, this crisis will become more severe and put in jeopardy the very stability of Russian society."--Abstract from web site.