Aleksandr Golts
Aleksandr Golts was born in 1955. In 1978, he received an M.A. in journalism from the Department of Journalism at the Moscow State Lomonosov University. From 1980 until 1996, he worked with the “Krasnaya Zvezda” (“Red Star”) editorial board, a Soviet and then Russian military daily based in Moscow. In 1996-2001, Mr. Golts served as military editor of “Itogi” (Moscow), a premier Russian news magazine. In 2001-2004, he worked for the Moscow-based magazine “Yezhenedelnyi Journal” (“Weekly”) as deputy editor-in-chief. He currently works as a deputy editor for the website EJ.ru.
Contact Aleksandr Golts
Articles by Aleksandr Golts
Jamestown Foundation Non-Resident Senior Fellow Pavel Felgenhauer and Analyst Aleksander Golts Interviewed by Meduza
Jamestown Foundation Non-Resident Senior Fellow Pavel Felgenhauer and Analyst Aleksander Golts were interviewed by Meduza in a recent article on the Russian submarine fire, Losharik. In the article, Felgenhauer and Golts
Putin’s Ideology Being Established in the Armed Forces
The existence of special political indoctrination structures in the armed forces is an indispensable element of many authoritarian systems, something the armies of democratic states almost never possess. On July
Russian Scientists in Military Uniforms
One of the distinctive features of a highly militaristic state is that it is ready to propose a military response to any challenge. While addressing the Federal Assembly (upper chamber
Russia’s Allies Do Not Want to Take Part in Syrian Operation
Moscow suffered a major military-diplomatic defeat recently in Kyzyl, the capital of the Siberian Russian Republic of Tuva. During the opening session of the Commonwealth of Independent States’ (CIS) Defense
‘Magicians’ Versus ‘Technologists’ in the Russian Military (Part Two)
*To read Part One please click here. For several centuries, military theorists in Russia have debated whether the special qualities of the Russian soldier can compensate for the technological
‘Magicians’ Versus ‘Technologists’ in the Russian Military (Part One)
Syria intercepted 71 of 103 cruise missiles fired by the United States and its allies on April 14, the head of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operations Directorate, Colonel General
Putin’s Militarized Election Campaign
Vladimir Putin’s presidential campaign from its first days was dressed in a military uniform. Like Caesar 2,000 years ago, Putin decided that military triumph is much more convincing than election
Russian Cossacks to Join National Guard Units
The ataman (head) of the Kuban Cossack voisko (army), Nikolay Doluda, reported that a National Guard platoon made up entirely of Cossacks is being created in Krasnodar Krai. This Cossack
The Return of the Commissars
The Russian Army is planning to recreate the Main Political Directorate that existed in the Soviet Army (GlavPUR), according to the Deputy Chairman of the Public Council at the Russian
Russian Military Mass Mobilization: Fact or Bluff?
Based on the words of the Russian leadership and the actions of local officials, the country has entered a new stage of confrontation with the West and now has to
How Many Soldiers Does Russia Have?
When it comes to manning within the Russian Armed Forces, Vladimir Putin is contradicting his own generals, and he has even begun to contradict himself. On October 24, the Russian
Russia’s Rubezh Ballistic Missile Disappears off the Radar
With Russia and the United States increasingly engaged in a new “cold war” of sorts, maintaining nuclear parity has become a vital strategic priority for Moscow. But despite regular reports
The Russian Navy: To deter the US and to Compete With China
The Russian Armed forces are becoming the main element of the government’s “patriotic propaganda.” Currently, the Ministry of Defense is overwhelmingly focused on preparing to celebrate the 320th anniversary of
Patriotism in a Military Uniform
The Russian government is increasingly concerning itself with the views and aspirations of the youth. Until recently, schoolchildren and students seemed quite indifferent to politics. However, young people made up
The Russian Army to Be Subordinated to the National Guard in a Crisis
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree late last month (May 24) that lays out drastic changes in the military organization of the Russian state. The bureaucratic document approves “The Statute
Russia Moving Toward Missile Frigate–Centric Navy?
A major military defeat can unexpectedly turn into a victory. Indeed, the actions of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov operating off the Syrian coast could easily be qualified as
The Russian Army Suffers Deficit in Officers
A special session of top officials in charge of personnel matters within the Russian Armed Forces took place in Moscow, on February 2. As is traditional for such conclaves, the
Is US-Russian Joint Operation Against Islamic State Possible?
Vladimir Putin has something to be proud of. Only a year and half has passed since the Russian president called for the creation of a broad anti-terrorist coalition of the
The Bastion Missile System: A Symbol of Power and Foreign Policy Tool
The militarization of Russia has reached such an extent that not only its military force as such has become a foreign policy tool, but even individual weapons systems are also
Short-Term Personnel Contracts Negate Goals of Russia’s Military Reforms
The Kremlin’s growing geopolitical ambitions have once again undermined previous successes of Russian military reform. In particular, the Defense Committee of the State Duma (parliament) recently approved amendments to the
Russian Suspension of Plutonium Agreement With US: An Excuse for Extracting New Concessions
On Wednesday, October 19, the Russian Duma almost unanimously approved the bill, proposed by President Vladimir Putin on October 3, on the suspension of the plutonium disposal agreement with the
Russia Returning to Concept of Mass Mobilization
A snap inspection in late August, involving three military districts and the Northern Fleet, as well as the subsequent strategic exercise Kavkaz 2016, held in southwestern Russia on September 5–10
Russian Nuclear Weapons Policy Increasingly Resembles That of North Korea
Moscow reacted harshly to North Korea’s most recent nuclear test. “Such explicit disregard for the norms of international law and the opinion of the international community merits the strongest possible
Russian Military Build-Up in Arctic Highlights Kremlin’s Militarized Mindset
Despite Russia’s economic crisis, which has already imposed restrictions on military spending (see EDM, May 3), the Kremlin is trying to implement a questionable buildup in the Arctic, aimed at
Time Magazine Interviews Jamestown Analyst Aleksandr Golts
On July 28, Time interviewed regular EDM contributor Aleksandr Golts about Russia's "hybrid warfare" tactics and "active measures" against the United States.
Top Brass Snubs Kremlin Initiative for Military Reserve Training of University Students
Considering the profound militarization of Russia over the past few years, one might expect the country’s Armed Forces to play an increasingly significant political role domestically, to have their own
From Assurance to Deterrence: The Russia Question and NATO’s Summit in Warsaw
Be careful what you wish for because it just might come true. In the past, this author had often heard Russian diplomats complain that the West fails to pay proper
Implementing Reserve System an Uphill Battle for Russia
Russia carried out mysterious snap military exercises from June 14 to 22. Although they were publicized in the media, the number of participants as well as the units involved were
For Protection From ‘Terrorists,’ Moscow Offers Central Asians Air Defense
During his recent trip to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu repeatedly spoke about the need for a joint effort against terrorism. “We need to discuss everything
New Divisions May Reduce Russian Army’s Combat Readiness
During a regular ministerial conference call, on May 4, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu clarified previously declared plans to counter the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He noted, “The defense