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Russia’ Generals Demand 800,000 Fresh Troops But Army May Lack Capacity to Handle Them
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Russian military commanders have asked for nearly 800,000 additional troops to sustain Moscow’s war against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko in an interview with The Times published on September 11.
The request, cited in a Ukrainian intelligence assessment, reportedly emerged after Russia’s nationwide elections this month and points to the enormous manpower demands facing Moscow after years of heavy battlefield losses.
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According to Ivashchenko, however, the figure requested by Russian generals substantially exceeds what the country’s military could realistically mobilize and integrate at any one time.
“In reality, the army can simultaneously absorb—mobilize, arm, feed, train and integrate—no more than 300,000 to 500,000 recruits,” Ivashchenko said.
That gap highlights a broader problem for Russia: finding potential recruits is only one part of expanding an army. New personnel also require weapons, equipment, instructors, accommodation, logistics and functioning units capable of integrating them into combat formations.
Ukraine’s intelligence services have previously warned that Moscow could accelerate mobilization efforts after the elections as Russian forces attempt to replace mounting losses while maintaining offensive pressure in Ukraine.
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An additional 800,000 personnel would represent an expansion far beyond ordinary replacement recruitment and would place significant pressure on Russia’s training and logistics infrastructure.
Ivashchenko’s assessment suggests that even if Moscow were able to recruit such a number, the Russian military would likely have to bring those troops into service in waves rather than absorb the entire force at once.
Earlier, reports emerged that Russian commanders in occupied southern Ukraine were allegedly using the identities of soldiers killed in action to fabricate votes for the Kremlin’s ruling United Russia party.
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