Russia’s army expansion comes as part of long-term goal beyond war in Ukraine - ISW
Illustrative photo (getty images)
Russia’s efforts to increase its armed forces are part of a long-term goal that extends beyond the conflict with Ukraine. This goal aims to expand the size and overall capability of the Russian military through extensive and long-term reforms, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
These reforms, which have been underway since early 2023, include the restoration of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts and the formation of new army corps, combined arms armies, as well as mechanized and airborne divisions.
As the Russian military begins to form new divisions, army corps, and armies, their staffing levels are expected to increase accordingly, at least on paper, according to the ISW.
“Russia's ability to properly implement these reforms and integrate the increase in combat personnel, however, is in part contingent on its prosecution of the war in Ukraine, as ISW has previously assessed,” the ISW states.
Medium- and long-term constraints on force formation and economic limitations will continue to hinder Russia’s ability to sustain its military expansion and properly implement the planned reforms, the ISW notes.
It is also reported that President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree to increase the staffing levels of the Russian army to 2.39 million personnel, with the number of servicemembers rising to 1.5 million.
ISW estimates that Putin is unlikely to announce a new wave of mobilization in Russia, although he does not entirely rule out the possibility.
