Development and Changes in Russian Military Strategy (1945-)

 After the end of World War II, all countries' military strategies developed based on their war experiences.

New military and political situations, the manufacture and introduction of nuclear weapons and rockets, and improvements in other weapons and equipment have fundamentally changed the nature of the war and how to carry out military operations. From this point of view, the United States chose a "maintaining power" policy that maintains an advantage in nuclear weapons and their transportation, and adopted a "massive retaliation strategy" premised on a full-scale nuclear war with Russia since 1953. Under these conditions, Russia implemented an active peace-loving foreign policy and focused on strengthening its defense capabilities, military combat capabilities, and continuous review and improvement of its military strategies.

From 1945 to 1953, Russia's military strategy was developed based on World War II experience, considering the U.S. possession of nuclear weapons and the armed state of Russian troops. Strategic action methods and forms have been prepared based on the increased batting power and the mobility of the unit. Since then (1974-1980), the development of military strategies has been linked to the armed forces with nuclear weapons and propulsion rockets, and the emergence of new military and military units. A fundamental new mission has emerged in military strategy. The important of these missions are as follows.

1. Research on the characteristics and practices of nuclear war

2. Construction of military forces in consideration of the ability to repel large-scale nuclear attacks

3. Maintain continuous and advanced combat readiness

4. Under all conditions in the early stages of the war, we guarantee the systematic deployment of troops.

5. Establishing the foundation of a coalition strategy for the Warsaw Alliance member states

Military strategies in the 1980s entered a new era of development in relation to significant changes in the political and economic sectors, a new understanding of the role of nuclear weapons, and the emergence of new weapons/military equipment with improved quality. Recognizing the legitimacy of all methods, types, and forms of armed struggle, the military strategy focused on strategic defense and the development of defensive and counterattack military action theories.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia experienced extreme changes in its internal and external security environment. In the external security environment, the separation of 15 republics, the spread of Islamic principles in Central Asia, the deepening of ethnic/religious conflicts, and the expansion of U.S. military power over these regions remain unstable.  In this situation, Russia's political and military leadership understands that Russia's internal and external military and political situations are related to the following characteristics. (1) Spread of WMD and transportation (2) Comprehensive conflict with Western countries in the process of pursuing economic interests (3) Mutual partnership between domestic and international terrorism and increasing the military threat of terrorism.

The current political and military leadership has set most of the factors that could develop into direct threats to Russia in the southern front, focusing on ethnic and territorial disputes and religious conflicts in the southern Caucasus and the development of Caspian oil resources. On the other hand, however, China's military power, Japan's rearmament and MD system, and territorial disputes are perceived as geopolitical security threats.

The basic concept of implementation of Russia's domestic military policy after the establishment of the federal government is to reorganize and rebuild military power to maintain and strengthen the combat capability of navigation. Through the revision of the new national security concept, the revision of the military doctrine, and the October 2003 terrorist attacks, the Russian military is taking measures to improve the military strategy and improve the Russian Federation.

A. N. Zakharov: "The Beginning of the Russian Military Semester"

B. A. Mikhailov, B. M. Resovoy: "Military Strategy Fundamentals"

Kim Tae-woong: "Military reforms and changes in military policy in the Russian Federation during the post-Cold War era."