Soviet and Russian peacekeeping 1948-1998: Historical overview and assessment

• Published in: The Journal of Slavic military studies Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 1 - 47
• Main Author: Kellett, Anthony
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.06.1999
• Subjects: C.I.S; CONTEMPORARY RUSSIA; Military history; Military intervention; Peace keeping; PEACE, PEACE MOVEMENT, PEACE GROUPS; Political history; Post-war history; Russian Federation; RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATED SOCIALIST REPUBLIC (RSFSR), 1917-1991; STUDY OF HISTORY AS SUBJECT MATTER; U.S.S.R; UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS; United Nations
• ISSN: 1351-8046; 1556-3006
• DOI: 10.1080/13518049908430389

In recent years, peacekeeping has involved up to 11,000 Russian personnel at any one time, and thus represents a significant new chapter in Russia's military history. It also provides a valuable gauge of Moscow's foreign and security policy and of its military capabilities. This article provides descriptive accounts of each operation in which Soviet and Russian troops have been involved: 13 UN missions (excluding successor missions and airlift support to 3 other UN operations), the multinational force in Bosnia, and four regional missions in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Details of deployment, command and control, peacekeeping activities, performance, and associated political developments are provided. In addition, the article assesses Russian peacekeeping practice in the context of international standards, in terms of consent of the parties, impartiality, use of force, numerical preponderance, command, and so on.