In the book by O. R. Airapetov, Ph.D. Sc., Associate Professor at Moscow State University, presents a detailed biography of Nikolai Nikolaevich Obruchev, an outstanding Russian military figure, one of the founders of the General Staff service, Russian military statistics and journalism, the author of the war plan of 1877–1878. for the liberation of Bulgaria, one of the creators of the Russian-French alliance of 1891–1893. and the developer of projects that formed the basis of Russia's preparation for the First World War. N. N. Obruchev made a huge contribution to the reorganization of the Armed Forces, the development of the system of reserves and state militia, the organization of military service and mobilization, the construction of fortresses, the preparation of possible theaters of military operations - in other words, he was directly involved in resolving all issues relating to the Russian defense system state. The author pays attention to both the statesmanship of N. N. Obruchev, whom his contemporaries called the “Russian Moltke,” and his extraordinary personal qualities. The portrait of our illustrious compatriot is given against the backdrop of a historical era that spanned the reign of four emperors.