In Russia, a strategic reserve of contract soldiers has been formed over several months, with some not being sent to the front in Ukraine. This indicates that the Kremlin does not plan to end the war and may be preparing for a broader conflict, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.
Source: Gazeta.UA
According to the ISW report, Russia’s territorial gains from May to August 2025 cost less than in the spring due to reduced losses in the captured areas. This likely allowed the Russian command to transfer some recruits to the strategic reserve while maintaining the pace of the offensive at the front.
Sources indicate that the formation of the reserve began in July 2025. From the beginning of the year to mid-September, about 292,000 contracts were signed with the Russian Ministry of Defense — approximately 7,900 per week or 31,600 per month. Some recruits are immediately placed into the reserve without being sent to the front.
Russian army losses decreased in the summer: from 32–48,000 per month at the beginning of the year to 29,000 in August and 13,000 in the first half of September. This allowed the number of new contracts to exceed losses during these months.
ISW analysts note that forming the reserve allows Russian command to continue offensives in small units, reducing the risk of significant casualties. Russian forces have begun operating in small infantry units, using penetrations to identify weak points in Ukrainian defenses.
The report also emphasizes that Vladimir Putin has not abandoned the concept of a war of attrition. According to the Kremlin’s theory, gradual advances on the battlefield allow victory through prolonged exhaustion of the enemy.
Experts suggest that the strategic reserve is not only being formed for the war in Ukraine. It may also be part of Moscow’s preparation for a potential conflict with NATO, including through the intensification of youth military-patriotic programs to recruit new generations into the army.
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