Russian, Soviet Militaria

This section will deal with Soviet and Russian militaries, as well as that of the post-Soviet countries.

The Soviet Union: Russia. Ukraine. Belarus. Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan. Georgia. Azerbaijan. Lithuania. Latvia. Estonia. Kyrgyzstan. Tajikistan. Armenia. Turkmenistan. Moldova.

1939-1945. Is estimated that the Soviet Union lost approximately 8.8 to 11.4 million soldiers during World War II.

1979-1989. During Soviet-Afghan War the Soviet Union officially lost a total of 14,453 soldiers. This number includes personnel who died from combat, wounds, disease, and accidents.

The Warsaw Pact: Soviet Union. Poland. East Germany. Czechoslovakia. Hungary. Romania. Bulgaria. Albania

Formally known as the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, it was a military alliance established in 1955 among Eastern Bloc countries in response to NATO. It lasted until 1991.

The key armed conflicts the Warsaw Pact was involved in were:

The suppression of the Hungarian Revolution (1956)

The invasion of Czechoslovakia (1968)

The transition from communism in the former Warsaw Pact countries occurred in a wave of revolutions from
1989 to 1991. The specific years for the dissolution of one-party communist rule in each country were:

Poland 1989
Hungary 1989
East Germany 1989
Czechoslovakia 1989
Bulgaria 1989
Romania 1989 ((the only violent revolution, where the dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu was overthrown and executed)
Albania 1991

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a regional intergovernmental military alliance established in 2002. It was formed to provide collective defense against external threats and enhance military cooperation among its member states. The organization evolved from the Collective Security Treaty signed in 1992, primarily featuring former Soviet republics. Something similar to Latin America's national security doctrine with Washington and the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR), and of course the NATO.

Member States under Moscow (1994 Headquarter):

Armenia from 1994.
Armenia has effectively frozen its participation in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since February 2024 and is in the process of a formal withdrawal. The reason for this split was that the CSTO failed to provide security assistance when requested during conflicts with Azerbaijan (CIS member but not CSTO).

Russia sold arms to both Armenia and Azerbaijan while offering to mediate between the parties. Although Azerbaijan does not belong to the CSTO, it is a post-Soviet state and CIS member (Commonwealth of Independent States).
Armenia withdrew from Nagorno-Karabakh at the same time as the CSTO. Armenia as a CSTO member is a client of the monopoly of the Russian arms business. But Azerbaijan is a buyer of arms from NATO countries and NATO partners.

Moscow expressed its support to the Azerbaijani project "Zangezur corridor" that will link western Azerbaijan with the eastern part of this country through Armenian territory along the border with Iran. The corridor was also a triumph for NATO as they will have direct access to the Caspian Sea, something unthinkable in Soviet times.

Moscow's support for the Azerbaijani expansionist project could be in the possibility of extending pipelines to Turkey and from there to the Mediterranean where large energy projects will be carried out to supply Europe through the Middle East. The loss of Nagorno-Karabakh seems to have been a geopolitical disaster for the CSTO, however Moscow considered it new opportunities for cooperation with other economic blocs that will invest in the area.

Among those affected by the border changes in this region, are Iran who loss of regional influence and border contact with Armenia and China, which has within its territory ethnic Turkish separatist movements Uyghurs that are ethnically and culturally a Turkic people. Azerbaijan's victory was also a triumph for Turkey, as Azerbaijan is an ethnically Turkish country, in a region of Turkish countries.(Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan) Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

Belarus from 1994.
Leaked documents show that Belarus supplied advanced military hardware to Azerbaijan between 2018 and 2022, during a period of peak tension and war with Armenia. Armenia and Belarus are both members of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and this action is widely regarded as a significant betrayal by a supposed ally.

Kazakhstan from 1994.
Kazakhstan has maintained a neutral "multi-vector" foreign policy, refusing to support the invasion of Ukraine or recognize annexed territories, which has drawn criticism from some Russian officials.

This country has an extensive and pragmatic partnership with NATO and its member countries as part of its official "multi-vector" foreign policy, to balance Russia's regional influence and assert its own sovereignty, as part of its long-standing "multi-vector" foreign policy. This Kazakhastan's "Multi-Vector" fpreign policy is not a doctrine, or a "Third Positionist" or "Non-Aligned" in the typical political science sense, but "pragmatic", strategy for a sovereign state navigating complex geopolitics. Although it seems an opportunistic position, in reality these times are of economic confrontation between capitalist countries, not ideological confrontation.

Russia has long intended to move most of its space launches to domestic sites to reduce its dependence on the Baikonur Cosmodrome it leases from Kazakhstan. However, the process has faced delays and Russia still heavily relies on Baikonur, particularly for crewed missions.

Kyrgyzstan from1994.
Although Kyrgyzstan and its neighbor Tajikistan are members of the CSTO, they have been regularly embroiled in armed conflicts. Moscow continued to supply arms to both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan despite the deadly border clashes between them in 2021 and 2022. Russia is a major, and in many cases the dominant, arms supplier to both nations.

Tajikistan from 1994.
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were involved in significant deadly border conflicts in 2021 and 2022, rooted in decades of unresolved territorial disputes. In a major diplomatic breakthrough in March 2025, the two nations signed a historic agreement to finally demarcate their entire shared border, aiming for lasting peace and regional cooperation.

Early Post-Soviet Conflicts

(early 1990s): Russia was involved in conflicts in Transnistria (Moldova), South Ossetia, and Abkhazia (both in Georgia), and the Tajikistani Civil War, often as a "peacekeeper" or in support of separatist groups to maintain its influence in the "near abroad".

First Chechen War (1994–1996): Russian troops invaded the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria after it declared independence, leading to a brutal war that ended in a Russian withdrawal and a period of de facto Chechen independence.

War of Dagestan (1999): An incursion by Chechen-based Islamic militants into the neighboring Russian republic of Dagestan led to a counter-offensive by Russian forces.

Second Chechen War (1999–2009): This conflict resulted in Russia re-establishing federal control over Chechnya through a protracted counter-insurgency campaign.

Russo-Georgian War (2008): Russia invaded Georgia following escalating tensions in South Ossetia, leading to a five-day war, the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states by Russia, and an ongoing Russian military presence in those regions.

Russo-Ukrainian War (2014–present): This conflict began with the annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in the eastern Donbas region in 2014, escalating into a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It is the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II and is ongoing.

Intervention in the Syrian Civil War (2015–present): Russia launched a military intervention in support of President Bashar al-Assad, primarily using air power to turn the tide of the war in his favor.

CSTO intervention in Kazakhstan (2022): Russian troops participated in a brief Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) "peacekeeping" mission to help the Kazakh government suppress widespread civil unrest and protests.

Russian special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine:

Approximately 1 million to 1.2 million casualties (killed and wounded combined) is the total Russian soldiers killed or wounded in the Russian.since February 2022 to 2025.

The Mercenary rebellion was a short-lived armed mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, against the Russian military leadership. Prigozhin accused the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) of launching a deadly missile strike on a Wagner camp (an accusation the MoD denied) and announced a "march of justice" to oust the military leadership. Wagner forces crossed from Ukraine into Russia, virtually unopposed, and quickly seized the Southern Military District headquarters in the major city of Rostov-on-Don.

March Toward Moscow: A Wagner convoy began a rapid advance north toward Moscow along the M-4 highway, downing several Russian military aircraft and killing over a dozen pilots who attempted to stop them. Moscow went on high alert, with defensive lines and checkpoints established on the city's outskirts.
The rebellion was called off after a deal was brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The agreement stipulated that Prigozhin would move to Belarus, and criminal charges against him and his fighters would be dropped to avoid bloodshed. Prigozhin later died in a strange airplane crash.

DPRK North Korean soldiers in Ukraine: The CSTO is not involved in Ukraine but it is estimated that around 12,000 to 14,000 DPRK soldiers have been dispatched in total, including replacements for casualties. Early reports indicated heavy losses among North Korean forces due to a lack of experience in modern warfare tactics.

Reports from Ukraine indicate that the North Korean troops are wearing Russian military uniforms and equipment. The helmets they have been observed using appear to be Russian-produced composite helmets, frequently described as MICH 2000 clones (Modular Integrated Communications Helmet), often used without covers. These might be models like the Russian LShZ1 FAST helmet replicas. The helmet is a modern, high-cut design made by "AmoCom", similar in appearance to the Ops-Core FAST helmet, which allows for the use of communications gear and active hearing protection (e.g., active headphones)

.Russia Military Deployments Around the World: Russia's intervention was viewed as a "low-cost strategic success" based on its own objectives. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Moscow has been losing important allies and strategic military and economic partners in the Cold War. The most recent was Syria, one of Russia's last ports in the Mediterranean. It seems that Russia's military geopolitics is entrenched in what is still left of the post-Soviet space and try to end the conflict in Ukraine.

There has been significant criticism and concern, both from external observers and implicitly within Russian circles, regarding President Putin's perceived loss of influence and allies in former Soviet spheres of influence and beyond.
Observers noted that Russia essentially "abandoned" its ally when the situation became dire, failing to commit significant resources beyond initial airstrikes as it focused on the war in Ukraine. Critics argued this showed Russia's diminished ability to project power globally. The new Syrian government has since terminated the treaty allowing the Russian military presence
The consensus among many analysts is that the ongoing war in Ukraine is draining Russia's resources and reputation, making it an unreliable partner. There is a widespread perception that relying on Russia as a security ally is a poor foreign policy choice.

China, unlike Russia, is generally perceived to be gaining influence in the international arena, including in regions where Russia's influence is waning. Beijing is expanding its footprint not through traditional military alliances in the way the USSR did, but primarily through economic means, infrastructure development, and soft power.

Worldwide performance of Russian-made military hardware: There has been significant criticism and international analysis suggesting shortcomings in Russia's strategic arms industry based on the performance of its equipment in recent conflicts, particularly in Venezuela and, to a degree, Syria

Modern Russian helmets: Since 90s, the last Soviet steel helmets Ssh60 and Ssh68 have remained in service, together with new hybrid prototypes (metal /composite) with different denominations therefore Ssh68M (Moodernized), but generally based on the M68 "Conehead," with composite liners and Kolpak 20 helmet covers (Ratnik set 6B47). Some were only prototypes for testing until they reached the standardized models of type 6B in aramid (Kevlar) with slight modifications to Airborne Usage. However, during the current conflict in Ukraine, there were some scandals around helmets that looked modern but were old Soviet steel helmets with modern coatings, while the old Ssh40 helmets were still seen there.

The 6B47 helmet. It is a key component of the "Ratnik" (Warrior) infantry combat system.

WW2 Soviet reenactment. G506 tractor truck. Telogreika Vatnik quilted jacket an trousers, Valenki boots and original WWII era (Dated 1946) Ssh 40 Soviet Helmet.

Soviet radios RM-105D 50s 60s (Torn Fu G version) and RM-108M 60s, 70s (Feld Fu version).

M15 Adrian. Imperial Russian and Soviet Era.

Adrian M15 with Tsarist shield emblem.

Budenovka. Winter War era. Replica.

M17 "Sohlberg" Helmet

Ssh36 helmet

Ssh 36 Russian Soviet Helmet (Restored).

WWII Soviet Visor Hat.

Hybrid Ssh39 refurbished with Ssh40 (Ssh39/40)

Comparison between the Ssh39 and its Czech clone Wz53

Broadly speaking, they are almost identical, only that the Ssh39 (left) has a slightly lower viewfinder than the Czech model. Both helmets are size 2.

Ssh40 Helmet

Ssh40 Soviet Helmet.

Pilotka army Cap

Ssh40 modified with East German DDR Y shape chinstrap. Mechanized, Motorized and signal troops.

The helmet has a dark green color on its olive green fabric. This dark color may have been for training.

In this photo a Soviet officer with Ssh40 with Y-shape chinstrap is seen instructing a DDR NVA soldier in the use of the 9K32 Strela-2 light-weight, shoulder Low-Altitude (SAM) surface-to-air missile or "Manpads".

Ssh 60 & Ssh 68 helmet:

Soviet Mig pilot leather flying helmet with goggles and KM-32 oxygen mask.

Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-15

Used from late 1948 and served in Korea. In november 1950 it demostrated its superiority over contemporary American Fighter Aircraft, and the balance of air power shifted in favor of Russian-backed North Korea.

T-34/85

Soviet Union T34/85 Medium Tank. Initial production 1943. Combat weight 34.4 tons.
This is a redesign of the T34/76 with an improved turret layout a more powerful main gun. The high velocity 85mm model 1944 gun, caliber 53, could penetrate 4.7 inches of armor at 100 yards. The T34/85 trought the Red Army parity with the German Tiger and Panther tanks, and gave the German Panzer Divisions a spanking in 1944 and 1945.
Secondary armament included two 7.62mm machine guns, mounted in the bow and coaxially with the main gun. The tubular fuel tanks on the rear of the hull gave the T34 a range of 250 miles on roads or a cross-country cruising range of 155 miles. The diesel fuel tanks could be jettisoned before the tank entered combat. The T34/85 had a maximun road speed of 33 mph, and 10 mph cross-country. This vehicle was captured in October, 1950 during Korean War. Aberdeen Proving Ground Museum.

Soviet Union IS III (Heavy Tank)

Initial production: 1954
Combat Weight: 50.5 tons.

The IS III was named after soviet dictator Iosef Stalin, but Red Army troops nicnamed it "Pike" for its pointed bow armor. The IS III was armed with the same 122mm main gun as the IS II, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7mm anti-aicraft machinegun. Even though the weight of the IS III remained the same as the IS II, its armor protection increased significantly. By carefully redesigning the hull and turret armor, the IS III not only had the better shot deflection than the IS II, it had also a lower silhouette, The IS III had a maximun road speed of 23 mph and a cruising range of 85 miles. The IS III was released too late to see combat in World War II, but it served in the postwar armies of the Soviet Union, The Warsaw Pact, China, Egypt and Syria.

T-54 and T-55 Tanks.

Armament: one 100mm gun, 2 7.62mm machine guns (one coaxial and one in bow), one 12,7mm anti-aircraft gun. Weight: 36 tons (35, 909Kg). The T55 was the same T54 with slight modifications.

PT-76 Model 2

(Amphibious Light Tank)

Initial production: 1952
Combat Weight: 15.4 tons

The PT-76 was the standard reconnaissance tank of the Warsaw Pact into the 1970s.It was developed from a Soviet Artic Tractor called the "Pinguin". This light armored tank is armed with a 76mm main gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. On land , the PT-76 has a maximun road speed of 27 mph. Using its twin hydrojet propulsion system. The PT-76 can move at 6 mph in water.The PT-76was widely exported to the Warsaw Pact, as well Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Congo, Cuba, Egypt, Finland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Laos, North Korea, Pakistan, Syria and Viet-nam. Aberdeen Museum.

ASU-57. Armament: 57mm Ch-51M gun. 1 7.62mm anti-aircraft machinegun.

2S1 M1974 (Gvozdika). 122mm Self-propelled artillery.

BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Armament: 30 mm automatic cannon 2A42 9M113 Konkurs ATGM
Secondary armament 7.62 mm

BRDM-2."Combat Reconnaissance/Patrol Vehicle".

IMR combat engineer vehicle based on the Russian T-55 MBT chassis. The IMR-2 was based on a T-72 MBT chassis.

T-72M MBT (1980s)

T-72 Main Battle Tank was first seen in 1980. This version replaced the optical range finder with a laser. The T-72 also has improved turret armor on the front. The resulting thickened front, lead US tanker to nickname "Dolly Parton Tank".
Weight (Combat Load): 48.9 tons.
Primary Armament: 125mm gun.
Max. Speed, road: 50 MPH.
Aberdeen Museum.