The Soviet Air Defence Forces (Russian: Войска ПВО, Voyska ProtivoVozdushnoy Oborony, Voyska PVO, V-PVO, lit. Anti-Air Defense Troops; and formerly ProtivoVozdushnaya Oborona Strany, PVO Strany, lit. Anti-Air Defense of the Nation) was the air defense branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. It continued being a service branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from 1991 to 1998. Unlike Western air defense forces, V-PVO was a branch of the military unto itself, separate from the Soviet Air Force (VVS) and Air Defense Troops of Ground Forces. During the Soviet period it was generally ranked third in importance of the Soviet services, behind the Strategic Rocket Forces and the Ground Forces.
Read more about Soviet Air Defence Forces: Commanders-in-Chief, Air Defense Forces, Structure, Inventory (1987/1990)
Famous quotes containing the words soviet, air, defence and/or forces:
“So they lived. They didn’t sleep together, but they had children.”
—Russian saying popular in the Soviet period, trans. by Vladimir Ivanovich Shlyakov (1993)
“subtle birds
Wheel and go,leaving air in shreds
black beaks shine in gray haze.
Brushed by the hawk’s wing
of vision.”
—Gary Snyder (b. 1930)
“To choose a hardship for ourselves is our only defence against that hardship. This is what is meant by accepting suffering.... Those who, by their very nature, can suffer completely, utterly, have an advantage. That is how we can disarm the power of suffering, make it our own creation, our own choice; submit to it. A justification for suicide.”
—Cesare Pavese (1908–1950)
“There are only two forces that can carry light to all the corners of the globe ... the sun in the heavens and the Associated Press down here.”
—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)