Volunteers and Mobilized: The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Increased by 180 Units in Two Years
During the two years of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian army has increased by at least 14 brigades and 35 battalions, according to data released by military experts. Units have been formed from volunteers from among prisoners in Russian prisons and former soldiers who have decided to return to combat roles and be paid for it.
The command of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has increased the number of soldiers since 2022. Prisoners from Russian prisons were taken into the army, from which 13 assault brigades "Storm-Z" were created. More than a hundred new units were formed thanks to the so-called "partial mobilization", which was announced in the fall of 2022. Experts from the Defence Express portal have listed and explained which new units have appeared in the Russian army during the two years of war.
Experts have acquainted themselves with the data published on social media by pro-Kremlin researchers from the consulting agency "Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies." It turned out that several waves of engagement of volunteers and mobilized men from Russia allowed the Kremlin to form 180 divisions of the Russian armed forces of various designations and sizes.
New components that appeared in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation from 2022 to the beginning of 2024 include:
- · 13 reconnaissance-assault brigades "Storm-Z", formed in various regions of the Russian Federation - consisting of former prisoners and volunteers. Later, these units came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation;
- · 35 battalions of the "Army Combat Reserve" (BARS), formed based on military volunteers who were in reserve;
- · Approximately 100 regiments of various purposes (motorized, artillery, tank) - based on partial mobilization;
- · One special brigade "Rosgvardia", operating in Donbas and consisting of three regiments.
Note that it can be determined how many people are in various military units. For example, one brigade of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation consists of four to five thousand military personnel. One regiment has from a thousand to two thousand people. One battalion has from 400 to 500 military personnel. Based on the data obtained by experts from Defense Express, it is possible to roughly calculate the results of mobilization in the Russian Federation once again. Starting from 2022, the growth of the Russian army amounted to 166,000 to 283,000 military personnel.
Earlier, Focus reported that in the spring of 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a new wave of mobilization that would be announced in the Russian Federation following the re-election of Vladimir Putin as president of Russia. After that, it was predicted by intelligence services, the Kremlin would launch a new offensive on Kharkiv. Experts speculated that the newly mobilized Russians would not be ready for combat before mid-summer of this year.
At the same time, in April 2024, it was revealed that recruitment for military service was announced by the now-former Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu. It turned out that the draft was announced even in the occupied parts of Ukraine, for example, in the Zaporizhia region.
Meanwhile, on May 10th of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a new offensive towards Kharkiv. Ukrainian Armed Forces maintain defense positions three to five kilometers from the border line, northeast of the regional center.