The American Institute for the Study of War has commented on yesterday’s speech by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov at a board meeting of his ministry. A part of the ISW report of 29 August is devoted to this.
In particular, the Institute pointed out that Belousov overestimated the pace of Russian troop advances in Ukraine, estimating it at 600-700 square kilometres per month, whereas ISW has estimated in recent months that it has not exceeded 500 square kilometres per month.
“Belousov’s statement also ignores that Russian troops are carrying out this advance in the open field and on terrain with minimal fortifications, due to failed infiltration operations like those that took place east and southeast of Dobropillya, and with heavy personnel losses,” the analysts said.
ISW drew attention to Belousov’s remarks that the Russian Defence Ministry has shifted its priorities to the production of light vehicles instead of heavy armoured vehicles, reflecting Russia’s tactics for combat operations from the winter of 2024-2025. For example, a Russian official said his ministry has purchased and delivered 22,725 motorbikes, quad bikes and buggies to the front line, and plans to deliver an additional 12,186 light vehicles to the Russian military.
“The Russian Armed Forces are increasingly using light vehicles, including motorbikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and buggies, instead of heavy armoured vehicles such as tanks because of their manoeuvrability and low cost compared to armoured vehicles threatened by Ukrainian drone activity. The Russian armed forces have not put in place adequate protection for armoured vehicles and tanks against Ukrainian drone strikes, and Russia is facing a dwindling stockpile of tanks and armoured vehicles,” the report said.
Belousov also said that Russian commanders are focused on integrating unmanned systems units into the broader Russian armed forces. ISW recalls that in August 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defence began a coordinated effort to create a separate centralised unmanned systems service. This is likely to centralise its control over informal specialised drone squads and drone procurement.
In addition, Belousov argues that the Russian Ministry of Defence is expanding efforts to digitise the military’s recruitment. The institute assesses this as part of a broader effort to strengthen Russia’s administrative capacity to manage conscription and mobilisation processes. In particular, it said it has created a state-run unified military registration system, which is a “unified digital environment” for his department.
“Russia has focused on digitising elements of the conscription and mobilisation process since the partial forced mobilisation to the reserve in September 2022 and has digitised aspects of this process, including the issuing of digital summonses for Russian conscripts,” the analysts commented.
In this regard, the Institute recalls that Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian State Duma’s Defence Committee, introduced a bill in late July that would facilitate Russia’s ability to process mobilised servicemen throughout the year, not just during annual calls to the reserves. This would allow Russia to reduce the bureaucratic hurdles that make it difficult to implement large-scale reserve calls.
ISW noted in July that the Russian command is modernising training ranges, including motorbike tracks to them, and reportedly intends to purchase up to 200,000 Chinese-made motorbikes for the Russian military.