Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported that the Russian army has significantly increased its presence in Ukraine, with 520,000 soldiers currently deployed and plans to reach 690,000 by the end of 2024.
Syrskyi emphasized that Russia has been using Soviet-era equipment and weaponry to sustain its operations, thus avoiding a total mobilization of its economy. However, this approach may not be sustainable in the long term due to the limited capacity for producing new military equipment.
Additionally, further economic mobilization could face domestic resistance, given the Russian public’s apathy towards the war as long as it does not impact their daily lives.
Although Russia’s efforts to generate forces have allowed it to maintain its personnel replacement rate, they have not resulted in a significant increase in troops in Ukraine. Despite Russian numerical and material superiority, Ukrainian forces have managed to defend and recapture territory, demonstrating the ability to conduct counteroffensive operations with adequate Western security support.