Ministry of Defence (Russia) facts for kids
| Министерство обороны Российской Федерации | |
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Ministry emblem
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Ministry flag
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 The building of the National Defense Management Center on Frunzenskaya Embankment (house No. 22) in Moscow, the ministry headquarters |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1717 as College of War |
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| Jurisdiction | President of Russia |
| Headquarters | Znamenka 19, Moscow, Russia 55°43′40″N 37°35′22″E / 55.72778°N 37.58944°E |
| Annual budget | US$69.3 billion (2014) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Child agency |
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The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (often called the MOD) is the main group that manages Russia's armed forces. Think of it as the government department in charge of the military.
The President of Russia is the top leader of the armed forces. They guide what the Ministry of Defence does. The Minister of Defence handles the daily running of the forces. The General Staff helps carry out the orders from the president and the defence minister.
The main office of the ministry is in the General Staff building in Moscow. Other ministry buildings are located around the city. A very important part of the ministry is the National Defense Management Center. It helps manage and oversee the armed forces from its building on Frunzenskaya Embankment.
The current Minister of Defence is Andrey Belousov. He started this role on May 14, 2024.
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History of the Ministry of Defence
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In Russia, the military has always had a strong role in government. For example, Russian leaders like the tsars and later Stalin often wore military uniforms. They also held military ranks. This tradition meant that military leaders often had a big say in government decisions. Even today, the Minister of Defence is often a military officer. Also, many members of the Russian parliament have served in the military. This mix of military and government roles ensures that military concerns are always considered at the highest levels.
On May 18, 1992, President of Russia Boris Yeltsin chose Pavel Grachev to be the Minister of Defence. Grachev faced a lot of criticism for how he managed the First Chechen War. Despite this, he stayed in his role until June 1996. After him, Igor Rodionov became minister, followed by Igor Sergeyev.
In March 2001, Sergei Ivanov became the defence minister. He was the first person without a military uniform to hold this job in modern Russia. President Vladimir Putin said this change was a step towards making public life less focused on the military. However, Ivanov had a long history with security agencies like the KGB.
Later, in February 2007, Anatoly Serdyukov became Minister of Defence. He was truly a civilian, having been a tax minister before. He started important military reforms in 2008.
In 2012, Sergey Shoigu took over as Minister of Defence. He had previously been in charge of emergency situations.
In May 2024, Sergey Shoigu left his position. Several people who worked with him were investigated for various issues. This included Yuri Vasilievich Kuznetsov, Timur Ivanov, and others.
Also in May 2024, it became known that a Ukrainian journalist, Victoria Roshchyna, had been detained by the Russian Military Police. This happened near Mariupol, a city under Russian control.
On June 17, 2024, four deputy defence ministers were removed from their jobs. This was due to issues like giving jobs to family members or friends instead of the best person for the job. New people were appointed, including Anna Tsivileva, who is related to the President. She will work on improving support for military personnel. Leonid Gornin became the first deputy defence minister. Pavel Fradkov, the son of a former Prime Minister, will manage military property and construction.
How the Ministry of Defence is Organized
The Ministry of Defence is led by a group called the collegium. The Defence Minister is the head of this group. It also includes deputy defence ministers, leaders of different departments, and commanders of the military services. Together, they help the Minister make important decisions.
The main working part of the Ministry of Defence is the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The Chief of the General Staff leads it. Experts say that the General Staff is very important. Its officers have the power to give commands. In the past, the General Staff had many different departments, each handling a specific area.
The Ministry of Defence also publishes a military magazine called Military Thought. Its daily newspaper is called Krasnaya Zvezda.
Key Leaders in 2024
Here are some of the top leaders in the Ministry of Defence in 2024:
- Minister of Defence
- Andrey Belousov (since May 14, 2024)
- First Deputy Ministers of Defence
- Valery Gerasimov – He is also the Chief of the General Staff (since November 9, 2012)
- Leonid Gornin (since June 17, 2024)
- Deputy Ministers of Defence
- Andrey Bulyga – In charge of supporting the armed forces with materials and equipment.
- Anna Tsivilyova – In charge of financial support for the armed forces.
- Oleg Savelyev – Oversees the ministry's main office.
- Pavel Fradkov – Works on developing technology and information systems.
- Alexander Fomin – Handles international military cooperation.
- Aleksey Krivoruchko – Manages military-technical support.
- Yunus-bek Yevkurov – In charge of combat training.
- Viktor Goremykin – Leads the main department for political-military affairs.
See also
- Awards and emblems of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
