A full and authoritative history of Russia's army since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, including Air Assault and Navy ground forces. It will appeal to all students of modern security and defence matters as well as general readers interested in the Russian military.

Professor Mark Galeotti, formerly senior lecturer in international history at Keele University, is Clinical Professor of Global Affairs, New York University. He is a former Foreign Office adviser on Russian security affairs, and for 15 years (1991-2006) wrote a monthly column on this for Jane's Intelligence Review. Mark's most recent books for Osprey are ELI 197 Russian Security and Paramilitary Forces since 1991 and ELI 206 Spetsnaz. Johnny Shumate works as a freelance illustrator living in Nashville, Tennessee. He began his career in 1987 after graduating from Austin Peay State University. Most of his work is rendered in Adobe Photoshop using a Cintiq monitor. His greatest influences are Angus McBride, Don Troiani, and Edouard Detaille. His interests include karate, running, Bible reading, history, and making English longbows.

(Each chronological chapter will include additional sidebars on e.g. the roles of successive defense ministers, and orders of battle. ) Introduction. /Born in Crisis - the 1990s: creating a new army in the wreckage of the USSR - First Chechen War - peacekeeping missions - the damaging 'grandfather' culture in the ranks. /'Reform Tomorrow' - the 2000s: slow beginnings of reform under Putin - Second Chechen War - uncertainty and inertia at the top - the Cossack revival. The Georgian Turning Point - 2008: profiting from errors and lessons - Defense Minister Serdyukov and Chief of General Staff Makarov force through reforms. /The Russian Army Today: structures, organization, chain of command - major annual exercise cycles, and what they teach us. /Two Armies: the reformed one-third, and the unreformed two-thirds. The human dimension: volunteer soldiers and conscripts - Ukraine - continuing problem of crime in the military. /Intervention Forces: Air Assault and Naval troops - Spetsnaz - anti-piracy operations - Crimea - 'non-linear war' doctrine. /Tools of the Trade: weapons, vehicles, specialist AFVs - latest 'Ratnik' uniforms and equipment - drones. /Select Bibliography