Russia, Military - Excerpts 2006-2012- JRL Home
Putin Fires Defense Minister Amid Scandal [replaces Serdyukov with Shoigu] ~ Putin fired Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov in connection with a corruption scandal and appointed Moscow Governor Sergei Shoigu in his place ... Natalya Krainova and Roland Oliphant, Moscow Times 11.7.12; JRL 2012-196

The first big name falls in Russia’s anti-graft drive ~ Putin sacked Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who is accused of stealing $95m, the first time the Kremlin’s revitalized anti-corruption drive has reached into the inner circle ... Business New Europe 11.7.12; JRL 2012-196
Shoigu Seen as Ideal Fit to Head Defense Ministry ~ Sergei Shoigu replaces Anatoly Serdyukov as defense minister, with a combination of public popularity and loyalty to the Kremlin ... Alexander Bratersky, Moscow Times 11.7.12; JRL 2012-196
Over half of Russians approve of Serdyukov’s dismissal as defense minister – poll ~ More than half of Russians – 58% – appreciated the decision to dismiss Anatoly Serdyukov as defense minister, and nearly half – 49% – approved of Sergei Shoigu’s appointment ... Interfax 11.6.12; JRL 2012-196
Experts welcome Putin’s appointment of new defence minister ~ Russian political experts have disagreed whether President Putin’s decision to sack Defence Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov and appoint Sergey Shoygu, governor of Moscow Region and former emergencies minister, in his place will lead to changes in military reform and major reshuffles in the top brass ... Interfax11.6.12; JRL 2012-196
Defense Spending and Policy Discussions Are Splitting the Russian Elite ~ The public standing of one of Putin’s most powerful cohorts — Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov — was seriously undermined when Russia’s Investigation Committee publicly accused the defense ministry­controlled holding company “Oboronservis” of corruption and of defrauding the federal budget ... Pavel Felgenhauer, Eurasia Daily Monitor 11.2.12; JRL 2012-193
Russia to Boost Defense Spending 59% by 2015 ~ Russia plans to boost annual defense spending by 59 percent to almost 3 trillion rubles ($97 billion) in 2015, up from $61 billion in 2012 ... RIA Novosti 10.17.12; JRL 2012-183
Medvedev Calls for Faster Rearmament ~ Medvedev called for an increase in the pace of Russian rearmament during a visit to a weapons factory... RIA Novosti, 7.23.12; JRL 2012-133

:: The Failure Of Military Reform In Russia
This week, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov clashed with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, publicly humiliating the former president ... Pavel Felgenhauer, Eurasia Daily Monitor, 6.28.12; JRL 2012-117
:: RUSSIA'S CHOICE: CHANGE OR DEGRADATION? from Can Russia Reform? Economic, Political, and Military Perspectives
"In this chapter, I reflect on the nature of Russia's political system, the external factors influencing its existence, the strategic implications of its degradation and the prospects for its transformation ..." Lilia Shevtsova (Dr. Stephen J. Blank, Editor), Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 6.7.12; JRL 2012-114
:: Voters Will Pay For a Military Buildup After Electing Putin
Defense and security spending is skyrocketing in Russia ... Pavel Felgenhauer, Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2011-209, Nov. 18, 2011
:: Russian military has 'no one left to draft'
The conscript service crisis is mainly due to demographic decline, bullying and brutal treatment of conscripts ... RIA Novosti; JRL 2011-208, Nov. 17, 2011
:: Revolt of the Generals or Shadow Theater For the Discontented?
Undoubtedly opposition exists to Serdyukov's "New Look" among rank-and-file officers, but accounts of a revolt of the generals and corruption in the higher ranks of the officer corps have more the feel of bureaucratic infighting ... Jacob W. Kipp, Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2011-133, July 26, 2011
:: Medvedev Threatens to Start Importing Arms
Medvedev, exasperated by complaints about high prices and low quality of defense industry products, urged the Defense Ministry to buy more weapons abroad ... Anatoly Medetsky, Moscow Times; JRL 2011-124, July 13, 2011
:: Medvedev explodes in anger over defense procurement: Solomonov Attacks Defense Ministry For Holding Back Funds
"Medvedev sounded angry and confused, not understanding clearly what to do to revive and reform Russia, or who to execute by firing squad" ...
Pavel Felgenhauer, Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2011-121, July 8, 2011
:: An Army of Dilettantes: Turning the Russian Army into a Professional Army of Contractors Will Be a Difficult (If Achievable) Task
The prospect of a professional army was first seriously considered after the First Chechen War; has the time now come? ... Martin Larys, Russia Profile; JRL 2011-116, June 30, 2011
:: Medvedev Warns Government Against Failure on Arms Procurement
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized the Cabinet for failing to procure arms for the military, saying defense-industry and government officials will be held responsible for the delay ... Lyubov Pronina, Bloomberg; JRL 2011-84, May 11, 2011
:: Medvedev: Russia Will Be 'Torn To Pieces' Unless It Develops Army, Security Arm
Medvedev had stated that officers should fulfil the state defence order accurately and thoroughly, and carry out reform of the Armed Forces and the Interior Ministry ... Interfax; JRL 2011-62, April 7, 2011
:: Russia to continue military conscription for next 10-15 years - Medvedev
Russian Armed Forces will continue using conscripts with contracted recruits for the next 10-15 years, Medvedev said ... RIA Novosti; JRL 2011-59, April 4, 2011
:: No Good Men, Weapons or Understanding of Modern Warfare in Russia
Chief of General Staff Army-General Nikolai Makarov gave a much more somber assessment of the present state of the Russian military ... Pavel Felgenhauer, Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2011-58, April, 2011
:: War Crimes: Perceptions of Conditions in the Army Remain Negative Despite Reform
With crime in the army rising sharply in 2010, severe hazing remains an infamous problem, as military reforms designed to eliminate such practices seem to be having the opposite effect by creating chaos ... Andrew Roth, Russia Profile; JRL 2011-56, March 30, 2011
:: Hazing Still Rampant in Russian Army - Serdyukov
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has expressed concerns about the hazing rate in the Russian army ... Interfax; JRL 2011-51, March 21, 2011
:: Army officers disunite from Russia's rulers
Army officers have had enough of United Russia and are looking around for a candidate they consider more worthy ... Tom Washington, Moscow News; JRL 2011-33, Feb. 23, 2011
:: Confusion and improvisation in Russian military reform: Slashed Russian Officers Re-called to Military Service and Promised Double Pay
Serdyukov did not offer any plausible explanation of this dramatic change in defense posture and why hundreds of thousands of officers were fired in a hurry to reportedly build a modern fighting force and now suddenly they must be replaced ... Pavel Felgenhauer, Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2011-20, Feb. 4, 2011
:: Moscow releases data on military manpower strength: Gogol's "Dead Souls" and Russia's Myth of One Million Men Under Arms
It is clear that Russia has been unable to sustain one million for some time now, resulting from demographic factors and reducing the term of conscript service to twelve months ... Roger McDermott, Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2011-13; Jan. 19, 2011
:: Russia to be able to win war against any adjacent state in two weeks - pundit
Once reform is complete, the Russian army should be ready to win a military conflict with a neighboring state within two weeks, Ruslan Pukhov, member of the public council under the Russian Defence Ministry and head of the Centre for the Analysis of Strategy and Technologies (CAST), asserted to journalists ... RIA-Novosti; JRL 2011-12; Jan. 17, 2011
:: Russia's Armed Forces: Adrift in a Storm; Moscow struggles to preserve armed forces' modernization momentum
Amidst the apparently self-congratulatory atmosphere, among the country's leadership and top brass there were uncomfortable signs of confusion over what the reform means, as well as the equally troubling issue of the defense minister's level of competence ... Roger McDermott, Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2011-3; Jan. 5, 2011

Russia, Military - JRL Excerpts 2006-10
:: Medvedev Promises Long Term Support for Defense Reform
Roger McDermott, Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2010-223; Dec. 1, 2010
:: Women in the Russian military
Dmitry Gorenburg, russiamil.wordpress.com; JRL 2010-217; Nov. 19, 2010
:: Russian defence reforms under fire
Anna Arutunyan, Moscow News; JRL 2010-201; Oct. 26, 2010
:: Russia Removes Constitutional Constraints on Military Intervention Abroad
By Pavel Felgenhauer, from The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL #2009-226, Dec. 11, 2009. :: New issue - pipss.org issue 10 [The Journal of Power Institutions in Post-Soviet Societies]
From Elisabeth Sieca-Kozlowski; JRL #2009-225, Dec. 10, 2009.
:: Russia's military reform still faces major problems
From Russian (government) Information Agency Novosti; JRL #2009-222, Dec. 3, 2009.
:: The Mistral Comes to Town
From Dmitry Gorenburg; JRL #2009-218, Nov. 27, 2009.
:: Medvedev's military priorities for 2010
From Dmitry Gorenburg; JRL #2009-212, Nov. 19, 2009.
:: Bi-Annual Draft Begins in the Russian Military
By Roger McDermott, from The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2009-186, Oct. 7, 2009.
:: Have Russia’s Dirty Generals Turned On Shamanov?
; JRL 2009-181, Sept. 30, 2009.
:: Russia’s Armed Forces Undergoing 'Unparalled' Transformation
By Roger McDermott, from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; JRL 2009-149, Aug. 13, 2009.
:: New Rules for Rough Play: A New Law Has Russia’s Neighbors Worried about War, and Parliamentarians Concerned about Further Consolidation of the President's Power
Russia Profile; JRL 2009-149, Aug. 13, 2009.
:: Russian prosecutor highlights violations of servicemen's social rights
From Interfax; JRL 2009-80, April 29, 2009.
:: Russia to axe top military personnel over lack of skills
From Russian (government) Information Agency Novosti; JRL 2009-79, April 28, 2009.
:: Russian Military: Medvedev Overplays the “Military Card” in Trying to Impress Obama
By Dale Herspring and Roger McDermott; JRL #2009-19, Jan. 28, 2009.
:: Russian Military Reform Delayed by Financial Crisis
By Roger N. McDermott, from The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL #2009-19, Jan. 28, 2009.
:: Moscow reconsidering military-reform plans
From Russian (government) Information Agency Novosti; JRL #2009-3, Jan. 6, 2009.
:: Russia's Military In The Throes Of Change
By Dale Herspring, from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; JRL #2008-228, Dec. 17, 2008.
:: A military doctrine for every occasion
From Russian (government) Information Agency Novosti; JRL #2008-228, Dec. 17, 2008.
:: Russian military to be fully rearmed by 2020
From Russian (government) Information Agency Novosti; JRL #2008-212, Nov. 19, 2008.
:: Russian information ministry blames crew member for tragedy on Russian nuclear sub
From Russian (government) Information Agency Novosti; JRL #2008-208, Nov. 13, 2008.
:: The Army’s Pain: Servicemen Do not Understand the Aims of Military Reform, but Are Terrified by Its Scope
By Dmitry Babich, from Russia Profile; JRL #2008-208, Nov. 13, 2008.
:: Medvedev’s Ambitious Military Reform Plans
By Roger McDermott, from The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL #2008-201, Nov. 3, 2008.
:: Russia to downsize Armed Forces to 1 mln by 2012
From Russian (government) Information Agency Novosti; JRL #2008-187, Oct. 14, 2008.
:: Russia plans to raise defense expenditure by 50% in 3 years
From Russian (government) Information Agency Novosti; JRL #2008-177, Sept. 30, 2008.
:: Russia's New Strategy
From Robert Brannon; JRL #2008-141, Aug. 4, 2008.
:: CHOOSING AN ENEMY, CHOOSING A STRATEGY, CHOOSING A DOCTRINE
By Pavel Felgenhauer, from The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL #2008-126, July 3, 2008.
:: Why Russians choose NATO army instead of Russian army?
From Pravda.Ru; JRL #2008-102, May 23, 2008.
:: The West Rains on Russia’s Parade
By Robert Bridge, from The Moscow News; JRL #2008-97, May 16, 2008.
:: Conscripts Face Only a Year in Spring Call-Up
By Alexander Osipovich and Natalya Krainova, from The Moscow Times; JRL #2008-66, April 1, 2008.
:: Frustrated Baluyevsky Offers His Resignation
By Simon Saradzhyan, from The Moscow Times; JRL #2008-62, March 25, 2008.
:: Russia: Crumbling Military Puts Kremlin On The Defensive
By Chloe Arnold, from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; JRL #2008-41, Feb. 26, 2008.
:: MEDVEDEV, MILITARY PROMOTE DIFFERENT OUTLOOKS FOR RUSSIA
By Pavel Felgenhauer, from The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL #2008-17, Jan. 24, 2008.
:: More than half of all Russians support professional army - poll
From Interfax; JRL #2007-220, Oct. 23, 2007.
:: New book: Zoltan Barany's DEMOCRATIC BREAKDOWN and the DECLINE OF THE RUSSIAN MILITARY
From Andrew DeSio; JRL #2007-178, Aug. 21, 2007.
:: RUSSIAN ADMIRAL ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS NAVAL BUILD-UP
By Pavel Felgenhauer, The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL #2007-171, Aug. 9, 2007.
:: Starting From Scratch: Military expert Colonel Vitaly Shlykov says that military reform can only happen if Russia forgets plans made for the Cold War.
Russia Profile interview of Vitaly Shlykov by Andrei Zolotov, Jr.; JRL 2007-126, June 4, 2007.
:: Russian Army To Be Downsized To 1.1 Million Troops By 2011 - Serdyukov
From Interfax; JRL 2007-123, May 31, 2007.
:: RUSSIA’S MILITARY PR PART OF KREMLIN INTRIGUES
By Pavel K. Baev, from the Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2007-66, March 19, 2007.
:: A Leadership Void at the Defense Ministry
By Simon Saradzhyan, from The Moscow Times; JRL 2007-41, Feb. 19, 2007.
:: Meeting with Defence Ministry Senior Officials and Collegium Members Defence Ministry, Moscow
Kremlin.Ru transcript; JRL 2007-39, Feb. 14, 2007.
:: CONTRADICTORY KREMLIN STATEMENTS THWART ATTEMPTS TO FORMULATE COMPREHENSIVE DEFENSE AND SECURITY POLICY
By Pavel Felgenhauer, from The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor; JRL 2007-31, Feb. 8, 2007.
:: Military to Get $189Bln Overhaul
By Simon Saradzhyan, from The Moscow Times; JRL 2007-31, Feb. 8, 2007.
:: Russian CGS on current strength, reform of army
From Interfax; JRL 2007-18; Jan. 25, 2007.
:: Russia's 2007 defense bill to exceed $11 bln
From Russian Information Agency Novosti; JRL 2006-199; Sept. 1, 2006.
:: Defense Budget: Secret Growth
Almost one-half of military spending may be hidden from the taxpayers
By Oleg Vladykin, from Russian Information Agency Novosti; JRL 2006-199; Sept. 1, 2006.
:: Military Justice in Russia
From Eugene R. Fidell; JRL 2006-120; May 22, 2006.
:: Russian Military Personnel Abuse: Russian Military Imposes Prison Term and Awards Financial Compensation over Brutal Hazing Resulting in Amputation
From Steven C. Welsh; JRL 2006-118; May 21, 2006.
:: Russia needs a strong army to address current challenges - top general
From Russian Information Agency Novosti; JRL 2006-107; May 8, 2006.
:: New Book: Dedovshchina in the Post-Soviet Military. Hazing of Russian Army Conscripts in a Comparative Perspective

Keywords: Russia, Military

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