Strategic Rocket Forces

Strategic Rocket Forces
Ракетные войска стратегического назначения
Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya
Emblem
Founded17 December 1959 (1959-12-17)
CountryRussia (1992–present)
Commonwealth of Independent States (1991–1992)
Soviet Union (1959–1991)
Branch Russian Armed Forces
TypeStrategic missile force
RoleStrategic missile deterrence
Size50,000 personnel (2020)
HeadquartersVlasikha, 2.5 km northwest of Odintsovo, Moscow Oblast
Motto"После нас - тишина" ("After us - silence")
MarchArtillery March (Марш Артиллеристов) by Tikhon Khrennikov
Anniversaries17 December
EquipmentBallistic missiles, cruise missiles
EngagementsCuban Missile Crisis
Able Archer 83
Norwegian rocket incident
Russo-Ukrainian War
WebsiteOfficial website
Commanders
Supreme Commander-in-Chief President Vladimir Putin
Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov
Commander Colonel General Sergey Karakayev
Insignia
Flag
Patch
Great Emblem

The Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation (RVSN RF) is a separate combat arm of the Russian Armed Forces that controls Russia's land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). It was formerly part of the Soviet Armed Forces from 1959 to 1991.

The Strategic Rocket Forces was created on 17 December 1959 as part of the Soviet Armed Forces as the main force for operating all Soviet nuclear ground-based intercontinental, intermediate-range ballistic missile, and medium-range ballistic missile with ranges over 1,000 kilometers. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, assets of the Strategic Rocket Forces were in the territories of several new states in addition to Russia, with armed nuclear missile silos in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. On 8 December 1991 according to Belovezha Accords, which dissolved the Soviet Union, the other 3 nuclear member states transferred Soviet missiles on their territory to Russia and they all joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Complementary strategic forces within Russia include the Russian Aerospace Forces' Long Range Aviation and the Russian Navy's ballistic missile submarines. Together the three bodies form Russia's nuclear triad.