ABSTRACT
The need for fundamental military reform has been clear since 7 May 1992 - the day the Russian armed forces were officially established following the collapse of the Soviet Union. No one could dispute that a Soviet-type military organization stood in total opposition to a market economy and democratic society. Since then there have been at least two attempts to initiate large-scale reforms (the first one was announced by Pavel Grachev in 1992 and the second by Igor Sergeev in 1997). Both failed. Now the Kremlin is trying to launch a third attempt. President Vladimir Putin recently cited military reform as one of three top national priorities (together with doubling the GDP and fighting poverty). This is more than understandable. The unreformed armed forces have become one of the most serious obstacles to President Putin's modernization plans.
