Russia Rebuilds Army with Civilian Vehicles Amid Support from China

Kurt Campbell, United States Deputy Secretary of State, believes that Russia has successfully rebuilt its army following the significant losses it incurred during the invasion of Ukraine. New evidence presented by the Frontelligence Insight portal through online photos shows Russia fervently working to bolster its invasion forces.

A senior official from the US Department of State, Kurt Campbell, has stated that Russia has managed to reconstruct its military capabilities after suffering major setbacks during the Ukrainian invasion.

In recent months, we have determined that Russia has almost fully restored its military capabilities - shared Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell at an event held by the Center for a New American Security.

Despite Russia's ongoing efforts to regenerate its forces—including recruiting new personnel and forming new units and military districts—the ground reality starkly deviates from the theoretical reconstruction.

The Frontelligence Insight portal has observed numerous Russian units facing a conspicuous issue since 2023, worsening in 2024: the replacement of armoured vehicles in Vladimir Putin's army with civilian vehicles, such as vans, pickups, and other non-armoured vehicles.

The Russian military is struggling to replenish its lost machinery with new production. Documented evidence has shown that T-72 tanks of various models are being substituted with older models like the T-62 and T-55 tanks in at least one unit.

The full extent of the situation across all units remains unknown, but sporadic videos of T-55 and T-62 tanks in different locations indicate that this issue is widespread. These models were initially produced in the 1950s and 1960s.

Since the onset of the invasion, lost vehicles exceeded 15,000 by the end of March, including 2,856 tanks, 135 helicopters, 106 airplanes, and 20 ships. Russia's inability to replace such vast numbers within two years is evident despite possessing numerous dated machines from the USSR era.

However, it's important to highlight that despite the depletion of land, sea, and air fleets, Russia has substantially increased its missile arsenal, potentially owning one of the largest collections globally, consisting of hundreds of thousands of tactical reconnaissance, kamikaze, and bomber drones.

It's important to note that Moscow ramped its defence budget to 6% of the national GDP in 2024, reflecting an increase since 2022. This hike is part of the Kremlin's broader strategy to transition its economy, particularly the defence industry, to meet wartime needs.

The uplift in Russian defence prospects is partly due to support from China, North Korea and Iran. Campbell, among other officials, mentioned that China played a pivotal role in helping Russia withstand economic and military challenges over the past two years.

We have indeed witnessed the People's Republic of China stepping up to bolster Russia's defense industrial base, essentially making up for the lost trade exchange with European partners following Russia's invasion - remarked the American official.

Nonetheless, the full restoration of the Russian army will be a lengthy process, and the future structure of Russian forces is expected to undergo significant changes. The war's outcome will determine their future size and composition.