Ministry of War of the Russian Empire (, Military Ministry) was an administrative body in the Russian Empire from 1802 to 1917.
It was established in 1802 as the Ministry of ground armed forces () taking over responsibilities from the College of War during the Government reform of Alexander I which led to the creation of ministries. It was renamed to the Ministry of War in 1815.
On December 28, 1862, by order of the Minister of War No. 375, the Main Artillery Directorate (GAU) of the Ministry of War was established. The GAU supervised the supply of the army not only with artillery guns and ammunition, but also with small arms, and also supervised the combat training and staffing of artillery units. State-owned military factories were subordinate to it. It was headed by a General Feldzeugmeister, and in 1908 the position of Chief of the GAU was introduced.
At the end of the 19th century, the Ministry of War had following structure.
The Ministry was initially accommodated in Count Zakhar Chernyshyov's former palace on Moika River Embankment, which was bought by the State Treasury for the Military Collegium in 1795 (later it was rebuilt and transformed into the Mariinsky Palace).
In 1824, the mezzanine and the first floor of the Lobanov-Rostovsky Residence (12 Admiralteysky Avenue) were rented for the Ministry of War for 63,000 roubles a year. On 23 June 1828, the entire building was bought by the State Treasury for one million roubles, and in 1829-1830 it was renovated to meet the Ministry's needs. It housed the principal establishments of the Ministry until its dissolution in 1918. The main entrance is guarded by white marble Medici lions.