The creation of Uzbekistan's Armed Forces (1992)
After independence, one of the key tasks of state-building was a national army. On 14 January 1992 Uzbekistan took the units of the former Soviet Turkestan Military District on its territory under national jurisdiction and established the Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defence was founded on 2 July 1992; the first defence minister was Rustam Akhmedov (who led it until 1997). On 29 December 1993 parliament designated 14 January as Defender of the Motherland Day. Verified facts and dates only.
After independence in 1991, one of the young state's key tasks was to build its own national army. Below, the creation of Uzbekistan's Armed Forces is set out on the basis of verified facts and dates only. We have a separate article on the declaration of independence (Uzbekistan's independence, 1991).
The Soviet legacy: the Turkestan Military District
In the Soviet period Tashkent was the headquarters of the Turkestan Military District. As a result, Uzbekistan inherited the strongest military infrastructure among the Central Asian republics: the military units, headquarters and installations on its territory passed to the new state.
14 January 1992: the Armed Forces are created
On 14 January 1992 Uzbekistan took the units of the former Soviet military district on its territory under national jurisdiction — this date is considered the founding day of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This same day was later designated as Defender of the Motherland Day.
Establishing the Ministry of Defence
On 20 February 1992 the newly forming Ministry of Defence took over the buildings of the former Soviet district headquarters. By a presidential decree of 2 July 1992, the Ministry of Defence was established (in place of the earlier Ministry of Defence Affairs).
The first defence minister — Rustam Akhmedov
Uzbekistan's first minister of defence was Rustam Akhmedov. He had led defence affairs from 1991 and headed the ministry until 1997. Rustam Akhmedov died in October 2025.
Service branches and principles
Uzbekistan's Armed Forces consist mainly of the Ground Forces and the Air and Air Defence Forces, with a National Guard and Border Troops forming later. The army is manned by conscription, and its military doctrine is defensive in character. In the early years, national personnel replaced departing Soviet/Russian officers. According to various sources, active service personnel today number about 120,000.
Defender of the Motherland Day (1993)
On 29 December 1993 parliament (the Supreme Council) designated 14 January — the day the Armed Forces were created — as Defender of the Motherland Day. Each year on this day military units line up on Independence Square in Tashkent.
