This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the Russian armed forces.

For many in the West, and within NATO in particular, the Russian military of today has come to represent far more of a threat than at any time since the end of the Cold War. A once moribund force manned by inept conscripts using dilapidated equipment is now seen in a different light. The Putin-inspired modernisation programme of recent years has seemingly created a more effective armed forces better able to serve the Kremlin’s growing strategic interests, not just within, but also beyond the boundaries of the former Soviet space. Russian sabres are being rattled with confidence and they are inspiring apprehension and fear. But just what degree of ‘threat’ does the Russian military of today in fact represent? Just what are its capabilities? How potent is it? This book seeks answers. And it seeks answers across the entire spectrum of Russian military structures. Uniquely, this book examines all facets of this military’s capabilities from the combat potential of its conscripts all the way up to the effectiveness of its nuclear triad. And it does so, moreover, while being mindful of the context created by the limits imposed by the actual efficacy of military force as a tool of statecraft in the 21st century.

This book will be of much interest to students of military studies, Russian politics, defence studies and IR in general, as well as professional practitioners and policymakers.