The President of the Russian Federation is the commander in chief of Russian Armed Forces. Ministry of Defense acts as a leader of armed forces and the General Staff managing operational control over troops. Usually, minister of defence is a uniformed officer but in most recent appointment he is not. (Sergei Ivanov named minsiter in March 2001)

The Ministry of Defense consist almost entirely by professional military personnel. It excesize monopoly over infomration concerning Russian military which gives high ranking Russian officers considerable powers in decision making and executipn processes. Its main object is support and provide for military. It also plays a big role in setting ground forces strategies and policies.

Ministry of Defense consists of:

• One Minister of Defence
• Three first deputy ministers
• Six deputy ministers
• Chief military inspector

Russia has a mixed conscript-contract force. Age range at which people can be conscripted to army is 18-27 years. Male population is being registered for the draft the the age of seventeen. 17 years of age. Servicing in army istwo years. Hoewver, plans are made to make it one year only. This is implemented to counter rampant hasing practices in Russian army.

About 30% of Russian army troops are contract servicemen at present time. MOst of these troops being deployed to Chechnya where no conscript troops left. There are plans to transform Russian Army into volunteer army of up to 70% by 2010. Steps already undertaken by Ministry of Defence and there are 40 all-volunteer permanent-readiness units, with 20 more to be established in 2006.