Deterrence is a key instrument of the Russian Federation’s security strategy and policy. Its importance stems both from geopolitical conditions and from the limitations of the country’s economic and demographic potential. In the context of the perceived threat from the West, deterrence plays a compensatory role, enabling Russia to maintain its superpower status and influence on the shaping of the regional and global security environment. It is firmly rooted in Russian strategic culture, in which the use or threat of force is seen as an effective tool for pursuing state interests.