Russia boosts army ranks for summer assault despite mounting losses
Mortarmen of the 24th King Danylo Separate Rifle Brigade fire on Russian invaders (Photo: General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces / Telegram)
Russia is replenishing its forces ahead of a planned summer offensive by recruiting prisoners and students and sending wounded or unfit soldiers to the front, though the reinforcements are unlikely to offset mounting losses, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 12.
In comments to the publication, Michael Kofman warned that as late spring arrives, it will become more difficult for Ukraine to detect Russian troops concealed by dense vegetation. That means infiltration tactics are likely to remain a key element of Russia’s expected summer offensive.
As part of its preparations, Moscow is “actively replenishing its army” by recruiting prisoners and, more recently, university students, The Wall Street Journal reported. Russia is also sending wounded soldiers and troops deemed unfit for combat to the front line. Analysts say, however, that the reinforcements are barely offsetting mounting losses.
According to Kofman, troops assigned to infiltration missions are usually former prisoners who have received only a few days of training, since reaching a designated position and waiting for further orders requires minimal preparation. Some of the soldiers, however, ignore commanders’ orders in an attempt to maximize their chances of survival.
The article also recounts the story of Russian soldier Vyacheslav Kudryashev, a former convict captured by Ukrainian forces.
The report said Kudryashev is missing part of his right arm and has two titanium plates implanted in his skull.
Over four days last year, he attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses during one of the infantry assaults that have brought Russia only limited territorial gains at heavy cost, the WSJ wrote.
Kudryashev said his commander had sent him and another Russian soldier to reach a forest position near Kreminna in Luhansk Oblast. Their task was to hold the position long enough for reinforcements to arrive and push the Russian front line forward by several dozen meters.
The mission soon unraveled. Kudryashev lost his radio while trying to evade Ukrainian drones. Left without communication and unsure of his location, he and his fellow soldier remained in place until Ukrainian troops captured them.
The article noted that Kudryashev suffered severe injuries in 2023 when a tank shell struck a garage where he was preparing mortar rounds.
The “former heroin addict” had been imprisoned on drug possession charges and returned to the war despite his health condition. In an interview with the WSJ, Kudryashev said he and many others in the Russian military viewed the war as a deliberate campaign to purge society of those at the bottom of the social ladder, including homeless people and prisoners.
Commenting on Russia’s infiltration tactics, Kofman said Russian forces were “saving equipment while losing enormous numbers of people.” According to him, the approach is delivering “diminishing returns.”
The analyst added that much of the territory captured by Russia in this way ultimately becomes a gray zone.
During an interview with Ukraine’s national telethon on April 19, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia would need a large-scale mobilization effort to attempt another major offensive against Ukraine or launch parallel offensives with smaller combat forces.
On April 28, Zelenskyy said Russia’s political leadership was preparing further offensive operations and planned to recruit more troops, including by expanding mobilization efforts inside Russia.
On May 7, Viktor Trehubov said Russia had already launched an active spring-summer offensive while making little use of armored vehicles.
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