Military maneuvers as a form of demonstration of the military strength of the Russian Federation in Europe

Abstract

The victory of the Russian Federation in the war with relatively weak, as far as military potential is concerned, Georgia in August 2008 exposed many flaws of the army. This situation made the authorities undertake the reform of the armed forces in 2009. One of its assumptions was raising the combat readiness through nearly “permanent” military training of soldiers in conditions which reflect various potential theatres of military operations. Considering the scale and character of conducted military maneuvers, including annual strategic trainings as well as other forms of activity such as unexpected inspections, they vastly go beyond military sphere. The increase of military ability and the initiatives of the Federation to undertake many military operations without clear warning, constitute the threat for security and stability in the Transatlantic Area. They were “presented” during the annexation of Crimea, in Donbas, and later during the military operations in Syria. As a consequence, the relations of Russia with the West gradually underwent a significant deterioration till they reach the level called“ a new cold war”. In comparison to the war with Georgia in 2008 there was a significant growth of combat abilities of the Army of the Russian Federation and also the increase of the efficiency of commanding and coordination of operations of large composite military orders. Armed forces and other power structures of Russia are prepared to a quick transition from the state of peace to the state of war, in case of the threat or the decision of the authority. Moreover, the speed and efficiency of conducting military operations at this strategic level may significantly eliminate the advantage of the military capacity in the dimension of conventional forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.