At the end of December last year, the Russian Security Council approved and President Vladimir Putin approved amendments to the existing Military Doctrine. In connection with a number of changes in the international military-political situation observed recently, the Russian leadership is forced to take appropriate measures and edit the existing documents that underlie the state's defense strategy. From December 26, the basis of the country's defense is the updated Military Doctrine. The previous version of the document was adopted in February 2010.
The nature of the amendments made is such that most of the paragraphs of the document remained unchanged. Nevertheless, some provisions of the Doctrine were moved within the document, as well as, to one degree or another, changed, supplemented or shortened. Although the amendments made seem small, they have a great impact on both the Military Doctrine and various aspects of its implementation. Consider the updated document and the amendments made that distinguish it from the previous Doctrine.
The first section of the updated Military Doctrine, General Provisions, has undergone minor changes. Its structure has changed slightly. Thus, the list of strategic planning documents that underlie the Doctrine was changed and moved to a separate item. Almost all definitions of terms used in the documents have remained the same, although some have been revised. For example, the terms "military security", "military threat", "armed conflict", etc. it is proposed to interpret in the old way, and in the definition of the concept of "regional war" now there is no mention of the possible use of nuclear and conventional weapons, as well as the conduct of battles on the territory of the region, in the adjacent waters and air or outer space above it.
The revised Military Doctrine introduces two new concepts: the mobilization readiness of the Russian Federation and the system of non-nuclear deterrence. The first term denotes the ability of the armed forces, the economy of the state and the authorities to organize and implement mobilization plans. The system of non-nuclear deterrence, in turn, is a complex of military, military-technical and foreign policy measures aimed at preventing aggression with the help of non-nuclear measures.
Quite remarkable changes are observed in the second section of the Military Doctrine, "Military Dangers and Military Threats to the Russian Federation." Already in the first paragraph of this section (previously it was the 7th, but due to some changes in the structure of the document it became the 8th), changes in the geopolitical situation in the world are reflected. Earlier, a characteristic feature of world development was called a weakening of ideological confrontation, a decrease in the level of economic, political and military influence of some states or groups of countries, as well as an increase in the influence of other states.
Now, the authors of the document consider the main trends to be increased global competition and tension in various areas of interregional and interstate cooperation, rivalry of values and development models, as well as the instability of economic and political development at various levels, observed against the background of a general deterioration in relations in the international arena. The influence is gradually redistributed in favor of new centers of political attraction and economic growth.
Recent events have led to the emergence of clause 11, according to which there has been a tendency to shift military dangers and threats into the information space and the internal sphere of Russia. It is noted that with a decrease in the likelihood of a large-scale war against the Russian Federation in some areas, risks increase.
Clause 8 of the new Military Doctrine lists the main external military threats. Most of the listed dangers remained unchanged, however, some sub-clauses have been changed, and new ones have also appeared. For example, the subparagraph on the threat of international terrorism and extremism has been seriously expanded. The authors of the Doctrine argue that such a threat is growing, and the fight against it is ineffective. As a result, there is a real threat of terrorist attacks using toxic and radioactive materials. In addition, the scale of international organized crime, especially the arms and drug trade, is on the rise.
The updated Military Doctrine contains three new external military threats that were absent in the previous version of the document:
- the use of information and communication technologies for military-political purposes for the implementation of actions directed against political independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as posing a threat to regional and global stability;
- change of the ruling regime in neighboring countries (including through a coup d'etat), as a result of which the new authorities begin to pursue a policy that threatens the interests of Russia;
- subversive activities of foreign intelligence services and various organizations.
The item "Main internal military threats" has been added, revealing potential threats that have no direct connection with external military aggression. Internal military threats include:
- activities aimed at forcibly changing the constitutional system of Russia, as well as at destabilizing the social and internal political situation, disrupting the work of government bodies, military facilities or information infrastructure;
- the activities of terrorist organizations or individuals intending to undermine the sovereignty of the state or violate its territorial integrity;
- informational impact on the population (first of all, on the youth), aimed at undermining the historical, spiritual and patriotic traditions associated with the defense of their country;
- attempts to provoke social and interethnic tensions, as well as incitement to hatred for ethnic or religious reasons.
Paragraph 12 of the Doctrine lists the characteristic features of modern military conflicts. In a number of sub-clauses, this part of the Military Doctrine corresponds to its previous version, but has significant differences. So, subparagraph "a" previously looked like this: "the complex use of military force and forces and means of a non-military nature." In the new edition, it mentions political, economic, informational and other measures of a non-military nature. In addition, such measures can be implemented using the protest potential of the population and special operations forces.
The list of weapons systems posing a threat, presented in subparagraph "b", has been expanded. In addition to high-precision and hypersonic weapons, electronic warfare and systems based on new physical principles, the updated Doctrine mentions information and control systems, as well as robotic weapons systems and equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous maritime vehicles.
The further list of characteristic features of modern conflicts has been seriously changed. It now looks like this:
- the impact on the enemy throughout the depth of its territory, at sea and in airspace. In addition, influence is used in the information space;
- a high degree of destruction of targets and selectivity, as well as the speed of maneuver both by troops and by fire. Mobile groupings of troops are gaining great importance;
- reducing the time of preparation for the conduct of hostilities;
- the transition from a strictly vertical command and control system to global networked automatic systems, which leads to increased centralization and automation of command and control of forces;
- creation of a permanent zone of armed conflict in the territories of the warring parties;
- active participation in conflicts of private military companies and various irregular formations;
- the use of indirect and asymmetric actions;
- financing of political and social movements used to achieve certain goals.
Despite the change in the face and nature of modern armed conflicts, nuclear weapons continue to be and will be an important factor in the prevention of armed conflicts using conventional and nuclear weapons. A similar thesis is reflected in paragraph 16 of the updated Military Doctrine.
Section III of the new Military Doctrine is devoted to the military policy of the Russian Federation. Clause 17 of the previous version has been split into two. The new 17th clause stipulates the procedure for determining the main tasks of the state's military policy. They must be determined in accordance with federal legislation, the National Security Strategy, etc.
Paragraph 18 states that Russia's military policy is aimed at containing and preventing military conflicts, improving the armed forces and other structures, and increasing mobilization readiness in order to protect the Russian Federation and its allies. An interesting fact is that in the previous version of the Military Doctrine, one of the goals of military policy was to prevent an arms race. The new document lacks such a goal.
Clause 21 stipulates the main tasks of Russia to contain and prevent conflicts. In the new edition, this item has the following differences from the previous version:
- subparagraph "e" requires supporting the mobilization readiness of the economy and government bodies at different levels;
- subparagraph "e" implies the unification of efforts of the state and society in the protection of the country, as well as the development and implementation of measures to increase the effectiveness of military-patriotic education of citizens and the preparation of young people for military service;
- subparagraph "g" is a revised version of subparagraph "f" of the previous version of the Doctrine and requires expanding the circle of partner states. An important innovation is the expansion of interaction with the countries of the BRICS organization;
- subparagraph "h" (formerly "e") concerns the strengthening of the collective security system within the CSTO, as well as the strengthening of cooperation between the CIS countries, the OSCE and the SCO. In addition, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are mentioned as partners for the first time.
The following sub-clauses of clause 21 are completely new:
k) creation of mechanisms for mutually beneficial cooperation in countering probable missile threats, up to the joint creation of anti-missile defense systems with equal participation of the Russian side;
l) countering attempts by states or groups of states to ensure their military superiority by deploying strategic missile defense systems, deploying weapons in space, or deploying strategic high-precision non-nuclear weapons;
m) the conclusion of an international agreement prohibiting the deployment of any weapon in outer space;
o) harmonization within the UN framework of systems for regulating the safe conduct of activities in outer space, incl.safety of operations in space from a technical point of view;
o) strengthening of Russian capabilities in the field of observation of objects and processes in near-earth space, as well as cooperation with foreign states;
(c) Creation and adoption of mechanisms for monitoring compliance with the Convention on the Prohibition of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons;
s) creating conditions aimed at reducing the risk of using communication and information technologies for military-political purposes.
The 32nd paragraph of the Military Doctrine defines the main tasks of the armed forces, other troops and bodies in peacetime. The new Doctrine contains the following improvements:
- Subparagraph "b" refers to strategic deterrence and prevention of military conflicts using both nuclear and conventional weapons;
- in subparagraph "i" the approach to the creation of military infrastructure has been changed. Now it is proposed to create new and modernize existing facilities, as well as to select dual-use facilities that can be used by the armed forces for defense purposes;
- in the updated subparagraph "o" there is a requirement to combat terrorism on the territory of Russia, as well as to suppress the activities of international terrorist organizations outside the state;
- added subparagraph "y", according to which the new task of the armed forces is to ensure the national interests of Russia in the Arctic.
Clause 33 (formerly clause 28) stipulates the main tasks of the armed forces, other troops and bodies in the period of an imminent threat of aggression. In general, it corresponds to the previous edition, but has a new subparagraph. The updated Military Doctrine contains a sub-clause on the strategic deployment of the armed forces.
Paragraph 35 reflects the main tasks of the military organization. Like other provisions of the new Doctrine, this paragraph is slightly different from the previous version and has the following innovations:
- in subparagraph "c" instead of improving the air defense system and creating an aerospace defense system, the improvement of the existing aerospace defense system is indicated;
- the new subparagraph "n" indicates the need to develop a mobilization base and ensure the mobilization deployment of the armed forces;
- also the new subparagraph "o" requires improving the system of radiation, chemical and biological protection of troops and civilians.
The new version of paragraph 38 of the Military Doctrine, which speaks of the prerequisites for both the construction and development of the armed forces, differs from the previous one in two subparagraphs:
- in subparagraph "d" the need to improve the interaction of both the branches and branches of the armed forces and the armed forces and state authorities is noted;
- in subparagraph "g" the need to improve the system of military training and education, training of personnel and military science as a whole has been made.
Clause 39 discloses the methods and methods of building and developing the armed forces and other structures. Section 39 differs from the previous edition in the following features:
- in subparagraph "g", instead of the creation of permanent readiness civil defense forces, the development of this structure is indicated;
- the new subparagraph "z" implies the formation of territorial troops to protect objects of the armed forces and civilian infrastructure;
- Subparagraph "n" instead of the previously carried out optimization of the number of military educational institutions suggests improving the structure of the training system.
The clauses of the new Military Doctrine concerning mobilization preparation and mobilization readiness of the Russian Federation have been almost completely revised. In addition, these provisions have been transferred from the fourth section of the doctrine to the third, which determines the military policy of the state.
According to the new doctrine (paragraph 40), the country's mobilization readiness is ensured by preparation for the implementation of mobilization plans on time. The given level of mobilization readiness depends on the predicted threats and the nature of the potential conflict. The specified level must be achieved through measures for mobilization training and renewal of the material part of the armed forces.
The main tasks of mobilization training in paragraph 42 are defined:
- ensuring sustainable government in wartime;
- creation of a legal framework regulating the work of the economy, etc. in wartime;
- meeting the needs of the armed forces and the population;
- the creation of special formations, which, upon announcement of mobilization, can be transferred to the armed forces or employed in the interests of the economy;
- maintaining industrial potential at a level necessary to meet all needs;
- providing the armed forces and economic sectors with additional human and material and technical resources in wartime conditions;
- organization of restoration work at facilities damaged during hostilities;
- organization of providing the population with food and other goods in conditions of limited resources.
Section IV "Military-economic support of defense" is devoted to the peculiarities of the economic aspects of the construction and modernization of the armed forces. In view of the implementation of a number of programs and projects, the section on military-economic support for defense is seriously different from the corresponding paragraphs of the previous version of the Military Doctrine. Consider the innovations of the updated Doctrine.
The difference between the old and new editions of Section IV is visible from the first paragraphs. It becomes especially noticeable in paragraph 44, "Tasks of military-economic support for defense." The new Doctrine defines the following tasks:
- equipping the armed forces and other structures with modern weapons and military equipment, created using the military-scientific potential of the country;
- timely provision of the armed forces with the means for the implementation of construction and application programs, as well as for the training of troops;
- development of the military-industrial complex through the coordination of the military-economic activities of the state;
- improving cooperation with foreign states in the military-political and military-technical spheres.
Clauses 52 and 53 are devoted to the development of the military-industrial complex. It is noteworthy that in the new edition they received minimal changes. So, in paragraph 53, which describes the tasks of the development of the defense industry, an additional subclause has been introduced, according to which it is required to ensure the production and technological readiness of the defense industry organizations for the creation and production of priority models of weapons and equipment in the required volumes.
Russia is actively engaged in military-political and military-technical cooperation with various foreign states. This partnership is also reflected in the updated Military Doctrine. Paragraph 55 (formerly paragraph 50) describes the tasks of military-political cooperation and received the following differences from the previous version:
- the fulfillment of international obligations is placed in a separate subparagraph "g", and subparagraph "a" speaks of the strengthening of international security and strategic stability at the global and regional levels;
- Abkhazia and South Ossetia are included in the list of states with which it is proposed to cooperate, in addition to the CSTO and CIS countries;
- it is proposed to develop a dialogue with interested states.
Clause 56 reveals a list of the main partners of the Russian Federation, and also indicates the priorities for cooperation with them. The Military Doctrine specifies the priorities of cooperation with the Republic of Belarus, the countries of the CSTO, CIS and SCO organizations, as well as with the UN and other international organizations. For certain reasons, these subparagraphs of paragraph 56 have not changed in comparison with the previous version of the Doctrine. At the same time, in p.56, a new sub-item was added, dedicated to Russia's cooperation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The priority area of military-political cooperation with these states is mutually beneficial work with the aim of ensuring joint defense and security.
As before, the tasks of military-technical cooperation should be determined by the president in accordance with the existing federal legislation (paragraph 57). The main directions of military-technical cooperation with foreign states should be formulated by the President in his Annual Address to the Federal Assembly.
As before, the updated Military Doctrine contains a separate clause, according to which the provisions of this document can be finalized and clarified in connection with a change in the nature of potential threats and tasks of ensuring the security of the Russian Federation.
The text of the 2010 Military Doctrine:
The text of the 2015 Military Doctrine:
