Russian Military Strategic Reserve Formation Postponed Amid Personnel and Equipment Shortages
The formation of new strategic reserves for the Russian military has been postponed due to personnel and equipment shortages, with only 70,000 of the planned 410,000 recruits expected to be available for 2026. As the focus remains on replenishing losses in Ukraine, the quality of new divisions is compromised, often relying on improvised vehicles. Financial constraints further hinder the acquisition of necessary resources, complicating the establishment of effective military formations.
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In 2025, the Russian command was able to recruit approximately 400-405 thousand personnel, limiting its ability to form new strategic reserves. The focus remained on replenishing losses and gradually increasing troop numbers in Ukraine, leading to the postponement of additional divisions.
For 2026, despite plans to recruit about 410 thousand new personnel, estimates suggest that only 70 thousand may be available for strategic reserves, insufficient for the planned deployments. Increased losses from assaults on populated areas could further delay reserve formation.
The quality of new divisions varies, with many being under-equipped and reliant on improvised vehicles. To form the planned reserves in 2026, the Russian command would need at least 68-70 thousand personnel, 490-500 tanks, 1,040-1,100 armored vehicles, 560-570 artillery pieces, and 24 missile launchers. The financial situation in Russia complicates the acquisition of these resources, likely leading to continued reliance on truncated formations.
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