The Russian Army (SV) is a formidable and evolving military force that requires careful analysis from U.S. military planners. Its unique operational doctrines and strategies present distinct challenges and considerations for adversaries.

Here are 10 key characteristics that define the SV’s capabilities and approach to warfare:

1. The SV Will Not Fight Like Us They adopt tactics that differ markedly from Western military operations, focusing on altering battlefield conditions.
2.  The SV is an Artillery Army with Tanks Artillery is central to the SV’s operational strategy, setting conditions for maneuver. It is considered the “God of War,” with unmanned aerial systems serving as extensions of artillery support.
3. The SV Has No Integrated Fires Command The SV lacks a unified command structure for fires, with commanders at each echelon independently prioritizing and allocating fire support.
4. Distinct Command and Staff Roles The roles of commanders and staff in the SV differ significantly from Western militaries. With three officer career paths—command, staff, and technology—the SV fosters deep subject-matter expertise while maintaining smaller staff sizes for effective planning.
5. The SV Values Speed Speed is a crucial component of the SV’s operations, allowing for the rapid execution of simple plans developed by commanders and the conduct of swift, large-scale operations.
6.  Operations Based on Correlation of Forces and Means The SV formulates operations based on the analysis of force correlations and ratios, leveraging mathematical and scientific methods to determine the necessary force ratios for attritional warfare.
7. Preference for Simplicity and Mass The Russian military emphasizes simplicity and mass over complexity and high-quality systems, which facilitates easier reconstitution and results in a resilient military structure that values quantity in personnel.
8. The SV Wants to Win Without Fighting The SV frequently utilizes information operations to sow discord among adversaries, disseminating a large volume of propaganda to control narratives and undermine opponents without direct confrontation.
9. Deliberate Modernization and Adoption of Innovations The SV is actively modernizing and integrating technical innovations into its operations, collaborating with industry to facilitate rapid changes.
10. Disregard for Noncombatant Protections The SV has shown a tendency to disregard the protected status of noncombatants deliberately targeting medical and religious sites.