Armed Forces of The Russian Federation

Next week is Victory Day on 9th May.  This happens every year to commemorate victory over Nazi Germany in The Great Patriotic War, as the Russians call the Soviet part of the Second World War.  Parades are held in cities; the largest being in Moscow.  However, my host city, Saint Petersburg, will hold theirs on Palace Square, outside the Hermitage Museum.  This I intend to see and take some video footage, as well as some photos which I'll post on this blog.

 



So, the purpose of VD is to remember those who served in the Red Army, in defence of the Motherland and the final westward assault on the Third Reich ending in May 1945.  As time passes, fewer and fewer veterans of that conflict are able to attend.  However, they are not forgotten.  The parade will consist of members of the modern armed forces of The Russian Federation, including the city's cadets.

Palace Square with St Isaac's Cathedral in the background

 

 

Female soldiers and cadets (above) Russian veterans (below)

 

 

 

Russian Forces Today

The modern Russian army, air force and navy may not be on the grand scale of the old Soviet armed forces, but it is still a large size with a huge amount of firepower.  Eyes are now looking at the Russian military as the crisis in eastern Ukraine continues.  Of course the question is: will they be used to intervene in Ukraine in the near future?  Whatever the answer, the facts are quite clear about the Russian military:  they are well-equipped, have large numbers and have some of the best-trained and experienced special forces in the world.  A formidable foe for any army.

 

Russian Armed Forces (HD)

 

It is not uncommon to see young conscripts and cadets walking around the city in their uniforms.  I see them nearly everyday on the metro.  Some of the cadets attend a military school  I say school, because they are just schoolboys in military uniform.  When a young man reaches eighteen, if he is deemed physically and mentally fit, he is eligible to do a period of national service.  This can be delayed if the man enters university.  While thousands of young men avoid service each year (resulting in arrests), tens of thousands are fed into the ranks of the Russian military. 

 

 

 

Source:   http://www.ft.com

 

As you can see by the numbers above, it's a military that dwarfs my own country's numbers. 

 

The Army: Сухопутные войска Российской Федерации

 

    

 

Army uniform insignia with tricolour (above) VDV paratroopers (below)

 VDV: Воздушно-десантные войска - Air-Land-Forces

 

Special Forces - Speznaz

 

The first time I had heard of Speznaz (special forces) was a film from the 80s starring Dolph Lundgren.  It was called 'Red Scorpion' They were portrayed as the Soviet elite.  Today Russia's Speznaz can be found in the army and the Ministry of Interior/FSB.  GRU Speznaz are attached to the intelligence wing of the army - ГРУ ГШ) or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye Generalnovo Shtaba (Главное Разведывательное Управление Генерального Штаба) meaning Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff.  During the last decade or so, Speznaz have been used to fight against separatists in the Caucuses  - most notably in Chechnya and Dagestan.

 

 



 GRU Speznaz:  Russia's elite

  

 

The Airforce:  Военно-воздушные cилы России

 

 

 

 

MiGs and Sukhoi fast jets make up the fighter wings of the Russian Air Force.  The picture above is the new MiG 35 multirole fighter which was derived from the very capable and agile MiG 29 Fulcrum.  It first flew in 2007.

 

The iconic Hind attack helicopter has been revamped into the new Mi-35:

 

 

The Kamov Ka-50 below: 

 

 

 

The Navy:  Военно-морской Флот Российской Федерации (ВМФ России)

 

 

 

 

 

And finally... Russian Navy hovercraft lands on a crowded beach: