Russian military

The Russian military serves as the primary armed forces of the Russian Federation, responsible for national defense and the execution of state military policy. Its operational scope encompasses land, sea, air, and strategic forces, tasked with protecting Russian sovereignty and interests globally. The organization maintains a significant global footprint through its permanent basing within Russia and possesses expeditionary capabilities demonstrated through deployments abroad. Its headquarters is located in Russia, centralizing command and control functions for its extensive structure comprising various branches and specialized units.

A notable incident impacting the organization's communications infrastructure occurred in early 2026. Public reporting indicated that Starlink satellite communication systems utilized by Russian military personnel experienced a widespread outage lasting approximately two weeks, commencing around February 4th, 2026. This disruption was acknowledged by Russian officials, highlighting a significant operational challenge during that period. The extended downtime of these systems suggests a substantial reliance on satellite communications for command, control, and coordination activities across potentially dispersed units. This event underscores the critical nature of robust and resilient communication networks for modern military operations and the vulnerabilities that can arise from dependence on specific technologies. The incident represents a documented instance of technological disruption affecting the Russian military's operational capabilities.