Reform of the Russian Armed Forces: Assessing the Developments

“Russia needs a modern army capable of mounting an adequate response to any challenges and threats, especially external ones.”

General Nikolay Makarov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces

On October 14, 2008, speaking at the meeting of the Defense Ministry board, Minister Anatoly Serdukov announced the beginning of a new stage of military reform. The reform affects all the key areas: increasing number of militaries, the central command structures, the organizational and stuff structure, and the officer training system. It also includes a phased rearmament program to equip the Russian Armed Forces with the latest weaponry and military hardware.

PIR Center has been keeping a close eye on the reform’s progress, devoting many pages of coverage to the issue in Russian edition of the Security Index journal and its International edition.

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