Russia needs 800,000 more recruits: Ukrainian intel assesses army's capabilities
Photo: Intelligence chief explains why Russia will not be able to mobilize 800,000 recruits (Getty Images)
The Kremlin leader's generals have asked intelligence services for nearly 800,000 more troops to continue the war against Ukraine, according to Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Oleh Ivashchenko, in an interview with The Times.
Putin's generals ask for nearly 800,000 troops
According to a Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) briefing, the Kremlin leader's generals have asked him for an additional 800,000 service members.
The request emerged after the nationwide elections held in Russia earlier this month.
Russian army physically cannot absorb that many recruits
HUR chief Oleh Ivashchenko stressed that the figure cited by the generals far exceeds the Russian military's actual capabilities.
Ivashchenko said that, in reality, the Russian army could simultaneously absorb — mobilize, arm, feed, train, and integrate — no more than 300,000 to 500,000 recruits.
Russia has also tightened restrictions on military reservists traveling abroad.
The first known case has been recorded in which a reservist was barred from leaving the country due to a mobilization order listed in his documents.
Meanwhile, according to Ivashchenko's previous statements, Russia has sufficient military and economic resources to continue the war for at least another year, but those resources could be fully exhausted by 2028.
