ABSTRACT
After the break-up of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the Russian Federation (RF) became its legal successor state. Initially the Russian military and political leadership was convinced that the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) would develop into an organization similar to that of the former Soviet Union, naturally under Russian supervision. This would allow the CIS to have combined armed forces at its disposal. However it was not long before a number of CIS states decided differently. After creating their own armed forces they subsequently developed independent security policies. In response to this, Russia too formed the RF Armed Forces and a Ministry of Defence (MoD) in spring 1992.
