| Western | Northwestern | Southwestern | Southern | Far Eastern | Central Reserve | |
| HQ | Legnica | Leningrad | Vinnitsa | Tashkent | Irkutsk | Moscow |
| ICBMs | 50 | - | 180 | - | 380 | 858 |
| IRBM/MRBMs | 282 | - | 54 | - | 207 | 27 |
| Bombers | 150 | - | 140 | 60 | 150 | 360 |
| Fronts | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1-2 | 4 | - |
| Armies | 13-14 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 12 | - |
| Divisions | 62 | 10 | 26 | 30 | 53 | - |
| - Tank | 31 | - | 9 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| - Motor Rifle | 29 | 9 | 16 | 28 | 45 | 14 |
| - Airborne | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| - Artillery | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | - |
| Main Battle Tanks | 13,000 | 2,400 | 2,400 | 5,500 | 14,500 | 4,500 |
| Artillery | 7,900 | 2,100 | 3,260 | 6,300 | 10,300 | 2,630 |
| SSMs | 513 | 98 | 185 | 170 | 363 | 115 |
| SAMs | - | 2,220 | 500 | 1,600 | 1,100 | - |
| Air Defense | - | 270 | - | - | - | 450 |
| Tactical Aircraft | 1,860 | 175 | 525 | 420 | 1460 | 150 |
| Helicopters | 1,160 | 415 | 185 | 160 | 500 | 50 |
| Northern | Baltic | Black Sea | Pacific | |
| HQ | Severomorsk | Kaliningrad | Sevastopol | Vladivostok |
| SSBNs | 39 | 6 | - | 30 |
| - SLBMs | 576 | 18 | - | 385 |
| Attack Submarines | 116 | 26 | 30 | 88 |
| Principal Combatants | 81 | 45 | 78 | 85 |
| - Aircraft Carriers | 1 | - | 1 | 2 |
| - Helicopter Carriers | - | - | 2 | - |
| - Cruisers | 13 | 3 | 9 | 14 |
| - Destroyers | 20 | 11 | 21 | 17 |
| - Frigates | 17 | 14 | 15 | 22 |
| - Corvettes | 30 | 17 | 30 | 30 |
| Minor Combatants | 110 | 230 | 160 | 200 |
| Amphibious | 13 | 25 | 21 | 19 |
| Auxiliaries | 87 | 50 | 53 | 98 |
| Bombers | 50 | 35 | 100 | 160 |
| Tactical Aircraft | 20 | 30 | 65 | 26 |
| ASW Aircraft/Helos | 150 | 50 | 90 | 151 |
| Naval Infantry | 1 bde | 1 bde | 1 bde | 2 regt |
Notes:
(1) Mediterranean Squadron includes elements of Northern and Black Sea Fleets; average composition: Submarines (8-10), Principal Combatants (8), Amphibious (2), MCMV (1), Auxiliaries (17-25).
(2) Caspian Flotilla (HQ Baku): Corvettes (5), Minor Combatants (20), Auxiliaries (7).
(3) Indian Ocean detachment: Submarines (2-3), Principal Combatants (8), Amphibious (2), Auxiliaries (12).
(4) Group of Soviet Forces Germany (HQ Zossen-Wünsdorf): Army HQs (5), Tank (10 divs), Motor Rifle (9 divs), Artillery (1 div, 5 bdes), Air Assault (1 bde), Attack Helicopter (5 regts)
(5) Ground Forces in Afghanistan (HQ Kabul): 1 Army HQ, Motor Rifle (3 divs, 2 bdes), Airbone (1 div), Air Assault (1 bde).
(6) Division totals exclude artillery divs.
Source: Adapted from IISS, The Military Balance 1985-1986.