Russian Ground Forces
The Ground Forces of the Russian Federation (Russian: Сухопутные войска Российской Федерации, Suhoputnye voyska Rossiyskoy Federatsii) are the land forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed from parts of the collapsing Soviet Army in 1992. The formation of these forces posed economic challenges after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and required reforms to professionalize the force during the transition. While the Russian Ground Forces in their present form are only about twenty years old, Russian officers trace their antecedents' history through the Imperial Russian Army era back to the time of Kievan Rus'.
Since 1992, the Ground Forces have withdrawn many thousands of troops from former Soviet garrisons abroad, while remaining extensively committed to the Chechen Wars, peacekeeping, and other operations in the Soviet successor states (what is known in Russia as the "near abroad"). The most recent clash was the 2008 South Ossetia war with Georgian forces.
Read more about Russian Ground Forces: Mission, History, Personnel, Crime and Corruption in The Ground Forces, Organisation, Equipment, Ranks and Insignia
Famous quotes containing the words russian, ground and/or forces:
“Louise, something in me tightens when an American intellectual’s eyes shine, and they start to talk to me about the Russian people. Something in me says, Watch it, a new version of Irish Catholicism is being offered for your faith.”
—Warren Beatty (b. 1937)
“Having interr’d her Infant-birth,
The watry ground that late did mourn,
Was strew’d with flow’rs for the return
Of the wish’d Bridegroom of the earth.”
—Edward Herbert (1583–1648)
“The most exciting happiness is the happiness generated by forces beyond your control.”
—Ogden Nash (1902–1971)