Increased 5 times – Katkov assessed Russia’s human and technical resources

Increased 5 times, – Katkov assessed Russia's human and technical resources Dzvenislava Moshovskaya

Alexander Syrsky noted in an interview with The Guardian that the Russian army significantly surpasses the Ukrainian one in terms of military equipment. The occupiers are also increasing the number of troops, which could pose a threat to the Defense Forces.

Defense Express editor-in-chief Oleg Katkov told 24 Channel that, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian groupings numbered about 100 thousand. Now their number has increased to 520 thousand.

“The number of manpower of the occupiers has increased 5 times. There is information that by the end of 2024 the Russians plan to increase the number of their troops to 690 thousand,” he said.

Russia's military reserves

Oleg Katkov explained that according to some information, there is an assumption that the reserves of Russian equipment are decreasing, but this is only because it is being sent to the troops of the occupiers, which have increased in number.

All weapons that were taken from warehouses are now divided into three states. The first is what is currently fighting, the second is what is being repaired after a defeat, and the third is what was completely destroyed, he noted.

Old Russian tanks

Katkov noted that it is important to understand that the information available in open sources about the number of enemy tanks may be out of date. Such data varies depending on the ability of Russians to restore damaged equipment.

“According to official data, there are 4 armored vehicle factories in Russia. In 2023, they planned to open 2 more, but it is unknown whether this was implemented,” added the editor-in-chief of Defense Express.

The throughput capacity, according to Oleg Katkov, has become. If the Defense Forces damage or completely destroy 100% of their capabilities, then it will be too difficult for the Russians to repair or build new vehicles, which could lead to a partial shortage of military equipment at the front. However, if such defeats are smaller, the enemy will be able to accumulate its capacities.

Russia has long since begun to decommission not at all modern tanks and send them to the front. The enemy compensates for the number of vehicles that they cannot restore and send with old models, he said.

The editor-in-chief of Defense Express added that such a trend is negative for Russia, but it is not worth waiting for the enemy to run out of equipment. The main task of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is to maximize the enemy's losses so that its defense systems are loaded with restoration work.