Defenders of the Fatherland: Celebrating Russia's Military Might

On February 17, 1918 the first mass draft into the Red Army occurred in St. Petersburg (then known as Petrograd) and Moscow.

T-50 PAK FA, a prototype fifth-generation fighter aircraft and soon to be the first operational aircraft in Russian service to use stealth technology.

A day later, on February 18, 1918 a decree on on the establishment of the Red Army was published.

In 1919 the new communist government decided to establish a holiday to commemorate the first draft and the publication of the decree on the establishment of the Red Army.

A Su-30SM supermaneuverable fighter aircraft.

Early in 1919 the Soviet government decided to establish a holiday to commemorate both of these momentous occasions.

Russian marines commence amphibious landing.

Since February 17, 1919 fell on a Monday, the authorities decided to move the holiday to February 23, and it has been observed on that date ever since.

Two Tupolev Tu-95 turboprop-powered strategic bombers.

Russian armored personnel carriers.

First celebrated in 1919, the holiday was originally known as Red Army Day.

Russian military helicopters in action.

Originally a motley assembly of people from all walks of life seeking to promote the interests of the new egalitarian state, in time the Red Army transformed into a powerful fighting force of trained and disciplined men armed with modern weaponry, which is now known as the Russian Armed Forces.

A RS-24 Yars thermonuclear weapon intercontinental ballistic missile.

In 1923 the holiday was renamed Day of the Red Army and the Navy.

Russian serviceman.

A Sukhoi Su-30SM supermaneuverable fighter aircraft.

In 1949 the holiday was renamed once again: Soviet Army and Navy Day.

Russian servicemen in parade formation.

Russian soldiers are trained to wage war in virtually all types of terrain, be it mountains, deserts, or Arctic tundra.

A rocket launch at Plesetsk Cosmodrome controlled by Russian Aerospace Forces.

In 2002 Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the holiday its current name, Defender of the Fatherland Day, and officially decreed it a state holiday.

Mil Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopter.

A Pytlivy frigate of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

The Pantsir-S1 air defense system system.

The Admiral Grigorovich frigate of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

A BTR-82A armored personnel carrier in action.

Long-range strategic bombers are one of the most potent weapons at the Russian Armed Forces' disposal.

Above: Tupolev Tu-160 supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber.