The size of the armed forces of Russia

Main article: Russian Armed Forces

2023

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation named the number of contract soldiers in the army

At the end of December 2023, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation named the number of contract soldiers in the Russian army. The agency disclosed these statistics for the first time since the start of Russia's military special operation in Ukraine.

As RBC writes with reference to the report "Army in Numbers - 2023" prepared by the Ministry of Defense, by the end of 2023, over 640,000 people are serving in the Russian Armed Forces. From the materials of the department it also follows that more than 40,000 people from the country's military army reserve (BARS) participated in the special operation. It was created back in 2015 by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The largest number of volunteers in the reserve from the Krasnodar Territory and the Rostov Region - over 6,500, follows from the materials of the Ministry of Defense. By the end of 2023, 7,000 BARS fighters are in the special operation zone.

By the end of 2023, over 640,000 people undergo contract service in the Russian Armed Forces

Vladimir Putin on a direct line on December 14, 2023 said that Russia had launched "a fairly wide campaign to attract people on a voluntary basis to conclude contracts with the armed forces." The President pointed out that, as of the evening of December 13, 2023, 486,000 volunteers were recruited, stressing that "the flow of our men who are ready to defend the interests of the Motherland with weapons in their hands is not decreasing."

In early December 2023, Deputy Head of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that in the first 11 months of 2023, over 452 thousand people were accepted into military service under the contract. Medvedev also drew attention to the systematic approach to understaffing the United Group of Forces with contractors from a number of subjects, including Moscow, Sevastopol and Chechnya.

In the Army in Numbers - 2023 report, says that as part of the partial mobilization, 302,503 people from 1,430 municipalities across the country were drafted, according to the military department. Of these, as specified, over 33 thousand arrived at the military registration and enlistment offices without waiting for the agenda.^[1]

The number of army and navy brought to 1.15 million people

In December 2023, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the number of military personnel of the Russian army and navy had been brought to 1.15 million people.

117 thousand people accepted for 5 months for contract service in voluntary formations

From January 1, 2023, to today's number Russia , over 117 thousand people have been accepted into the Armed Forces for a contract and within the framework of voluntary formations, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation said on May 19. Dmitry Medvedev

2022

Mobilization of 300 thousand reservists for special operation in Ukraine

Main article: Mobilization

On September 21, 2022 Russia Vladimir Putin , the president announced partial mobilization in the Russian Federation.

citizens who are currently in reserve and, above all, those who served in the ranks of the Armed Forces, have certain military accounting specialties and relevant experience will be subject to conscription for military service. Those called up for military service before being sent to units will necessarily undergo additional military training, taking into account the experience of a special military operation. "

Citizens of the Russian Federation, called up for military service during mobilization, receive the status and all payments for which contract workers claim.

The decree on partial mobilization provides for additional measures for the state defense order.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on mobilization:

Those who served, primarily with combat experience, with a military accounting specialty, will fall under mobilization. Partial mobilization will not affect students and students of universities. The total mobilization resource of the Russian Federation is about 25 million people. Partial mobilization is 1% of mobilization resources. During the partial mobilization, a total of 300 thousand reservists will be called up.

5937 dead during a special operation in Ukraine on September

The losses of the Russian Armed Forces in a special operation in Ukraine amount to 5937 dead, Defense Minister Shoigu said on September 20, 2022.

National Guard of the Russian Federation PMCs, volunteers, armies of the DPR, LPR, etc. also have their losses FSB.

10% increase in the regular number of military personnel to 1.15 million people

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the number of military personnel by 10%. This became known on August 25, 2022. The document will enter into force on January 1, 2023.

In accordance with the decree, the staff number of military personnel in the army Russia will grow by 137 thousand people, to more than 1.15 million. The number of civilian personnel in the armed forces remained unchanged.

Putin signed a decree to increase the staff of military personnel

Such documents establishing the staffing of military personnel and civilian personnel of the RF Armed Forces are published regularly in accordance with the law "On Defense." On their basis, the expenses of the Ministry of Defense for the cash maintenance of military personnel and salaries of civilian personnel are calculated.

About a third or more of these 137,000 people are probably volunteers who have entered or will enter the service as part of the so-called "nominal" battalions, which have been formed in various constituent entities of the Federation since May, says Viktor Murakhovsky, editor-in-chief of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine. There are different estimates of the number of such units, but according to him, we can talk about 50 such battalions and companies.

According to the previous decree of November 17, 2017, the staffing of the RF Armed Forces was 1,902,758 units, including 1,013,628 military personnel.

At the end of March 2022, Vladimir Putin signed a decree on conscription from April 1 to July 15, 134.5 thousand people. At the same time, the General Staff ruled out a connection between the spring draft campaign and the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

According to the open part of the draft budget for 2022-2024, 2022 billion rubles will be spent on the Russian armed forces in 1,067,3, 2023 billion rubles in 1,110,6 and 2024 billion rubles in 1,143,7.^[2]

2021: Military duty cannot be subject to bargaining, - Mironov

by definition, the rich have more rights than other citizens, "said Sergei Mironov, chairman of the Fair Russia - For Truth party, in March 2021.

The day before, the head of the New People party, Alexei Nechaev, said that Russian conscripts should have an official opportunity to pay off the army, and the money paid can be used to train serving young men.

"To begin with," New People, "apparently due to the inability to offer something of their own, pull out God's old ideas. Since the 90s, all kinds of political marginals from time to time reanimate this "initiative." Indeed, we have a lot of abuse of conscription and loopholes to avoid army service for the offspring of wealthy parents. But is the prevalence of crime a reason to legalize them?, " the parliamentarian wonders.

The socialist leader considers this approach "very promising."

"For example, some clever people also offer, let corrupt officials pay a share in the budget with each bribe. They still steal, but then the treasury will increase. And also to let this money in for something good - here's a solution to a lot of problems! I believe that with the approach of the parliamentary elections, there will be more and more such "breakthrough" ideas, as well as the number of "new," "bright" personalities who are ready to amaze the voter with originality borrowed from someone, "Mironov emphasized.

2018: Spring conscription of 128 thousand people: at least 12 years

It begins in Russia on April 1. 128 thousand people will be sent to the troops - this is the minimum number of conscripts over the past 12 years.

2017

V. Putin: Russia is gradually moving away from conscription service

The gradual refusal of the country's armed forces from conscription service was reported in October 2017 to the team members. WorldSkills Russia Vladimir Putin

According to RIA Novosti, the president announced the news, answering a question about alternative service for members of the national team who won the world championship of working professions. Vladimir Putin noted that soon such issues will leave the agenda altogether.

"We are now developing what the Ministry of Defense began a few years ago, you probably heard, we have created so-called scientific companies, and now we will do, relatively speaking, a technopark for young specialists who have graduated from higher educational institutions and can undergo not an alternative, but a real military conscription service, but using their best knowledge and skills," - quotes the news agency of the Russian leader.

Vladimir Putin explained that the process of abandoning conscription service is slower than expected due to budget restrictions. However, he assured that this issue will be resolved.

1,897 million military personnel

In March 2017 Russia Vladimir Putin , the President established the staff of the Russian Armed Forces from January 1, 2017 in the amount of 1.897 million people, which is about 12 thousand more than established by the previous decree. The decree comes into force from the date of signing.

From July 1, 2017, the total number of Russian Armed Forces will increase to 1,903 million people. At the same time, the number of military personnel will not change and will amount to 1.013 million people.

According to a previous decree published in July 2016, the staff of the Russian Armed Forces was 1.885 million people.

2014

Data for 2014. Click twice on the image to open it at the maximum size

Notes