Russia focuses on improving combat drills and offensive operations - ISW
Photo: Russia is stepping up and improving the training of assault units (Getty Images)
Russia's military command is focusing on preparing additional combat units and enhancing the tactical assault operations of its forces, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Colonel General Ivan Buvaltsev, head of the Combat Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, stated in the official newsletter Krasnaya Zvezda that over 300,000 contract servicemen have been trained in reserve regiments for deployment to Ukraine in 2024. Among them are over 3,000 drone operators.
The ISW report also referenced comments by Ruslan Pukhov, head of Moscow's Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies and a member of the Civil Advisory Council under the Ministry of Defense. Pukhov noted that the Russian military may recruit approximately 300,000 service members this year, aligning with Buvaltsev's claim regarding the total number of trained contract soldiers.
"A Russian mil blogger claimed that the Russian military is focusing on preparing soldiers to operate in fireteam-sized tactical assault units composed of two to five soldiers and is prioritizing training drone operators and electronic warfare (EW) system specialists," the ISW stated.
Mobilization in Russia and the occupied territories
Russian forces have increased pressure in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, forcibly coercing men to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense and engaging in compulsory mobilization efforts.
In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not rule out the possibility of another wave of mobilization for the war in Ukraine.
However, the ISW remains skeptical about such a decision, as additional mobilization could undermine the regime's stability.
According to British intelligence, Russia mobilizes approximately 30,000 soldiers each month, enabling it to offset substantial losses and sustain its offensive against Ukrainian forces.
