Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's army has undergone a
turbulent transformation: from the scattered leftovers of the old Soviet
military, through a period of shocking decay and demoralization, to the
disciplined force and sophisticated "hybrid war" doctrine that enabled
Vladimir Putin to seize Crimea virtually overnight in 2014.
Using rare photographs and full-color images of the army in action,
profiles of army leaders and defense ministers, as well as orders of
battle and details of equipment and dress, this is a vivid account of
the army's troubled history and of its current character, capabilities
and status.
Written by an internationally respected author with remarkable access to
Russian-language sources and veterans, this study is essential reading
for anyone wishing to understand the growing power of Russia's military.