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 the author of numerous books including Putin's Wars (2022) and Forged In War (2024).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 Édouard Detaille.

• IntroductionBorn 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

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