A revival of the Soviet Main Political Directorate, it is informally referred to as GlavPuR (ГлавПУР), the Russian abbreviation for the latter.

The GVPU was established by a decree of President Vladimir Putin on 30 July 2018 and Colonel General Andrey Kartapolov appointed its head.

[1][2] The first reports on its creation appeared in the media in February of that year, citing Ministry of Defense sources who stated that it would be organized from the Main Directorate for Work with Personnel,[3][4] the successor of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Soviet Army and Soviet Navy, disbanded after the August coup in 1991 when Communist Party influence was removed from the Armed Forces.

[5][6] Thus, Aleksandr Kanshin, deputy chairman of the Public Council of the Ministry of Defense, noted that "in the context of a global information and psychological confrontation, the role of the moral and political unity of the army and society increases immeasurably," for which "a radical restructuring and significant strengthening of the entire organization of the Armed Forces is necessary, which will organize, conduct and be responsible for the moral and ideological component in the Russian Army.

"[9] Officially, the GVPU organizes military-political work in the Armed Forces, carrying out the Ministry of Defense objective of developing and implementing measures aimed at publicizing the activities of the Armed Forces, increasing the societal authority and prestige of military service, and the preservation and enhancement of patriotic traditions.