Putin is unlikely to stop at Ukraine, but at the same time he will continue his aggression against Western countries, experts believe.
The Russian Federation is ramping up production of drones, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), aircraft and ships. These are the types of weapons the Kremlin will rely on in the event of an upcoming war with NATO.
This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting, affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense, industrial production in the country grew by 2.6% in the period from April to May 2025.
These data from the center indicate the desire of the Russian Federation to expand strategic industrial infrastructure in the medium and long term. These measures may be part of the process of reorganization and restoration of the combat capabilities of the Russian armed forces in view of the possibility of a protracted conflict with NATO countries,” the analysts believe.
Satellite images of individual Russian armored vehicle repair plants indicate that Russia is ramping up production of infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).
In addition, additional analysis indicates that Russia has made some progress in expanding production of T-90M tanks, further confirming the long-term investment of the Russians in the long-term production of heavy armored vehicles.
“It is not yet clear whether these measures are aimed at preparing for a new large-scale offensive against Ukraine in the short or medium term, or whether we are talking about restoring the potential for a possible broader confrontation with NATO,” ISW notes.
It was previously reported that after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US and its allies imposed a series of sanctions aimed at undermining the Russian defense industry. On the battlefield, Russia lost equipment and reduced its stockpiles of missiles and shells.
In response, the Kremlin has quickly poured resources into its military industry. The federal budget for the year provides for an even larger share of defense spending this year — more than 29%.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in December that Russia was producing 17.5 times more ammunition, 17 times more drones and 5.6 times more tanks than before the war.
