Russia is reportedly forming a strategic reserve from new recruits, a move that indicates the Kremlin is not interested in ending the war in Ukraine. According to an insider source, nearly 292,000 people have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense since the beginning of 2025, with some of these recruits being directed to this new reserve force. This comes as Russia’s casualty rates have reportedly decreased significantly in recent months, a change that may have convinced the military command it could afford to hold back some new personnel rather than sending them all to the frontline.
The reduced casualties are attributed in part to a shift in Russian tactics. Instead of large-scale assaults, forces are now reportedly conducting attacks in smaller infantry groups, using infiltration tactics to find and exploit weaknesses in Ukraine’s undermanned defenses.
This change in approach allows them to continue their slow, creeping advances while preserving manpower, a strategy that aligns with President Vladimir Putin’s theory of a protracted war of attrition. The formation of this reserve suggests that Russia is content with its current pace of advance and may be preparing for a future escalation of offensive operations in Ukraine, or even a potential conflict with NATO.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to test NATO’s air defenses with frequent aerial incursions over the Baltic Sea. In a recent incident, two German Eurofighters were scrambled to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying without a flight plan. This is part of a broader campaign to collect intelligence and test the political will of NATO members. U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the U.S. will “help” Poland and the Baltic States if Russia “keeps accelerating,” but the presence of U.S. officials at the recent Zapad-2025 war games in Belarus has heightened European fears about Washington’s resolve.
In a related development, the Kremlin has reportedly dismissed Colonel General Alexander Lapin, a move that is likely part of an effort to scapegoat high-ranking officials for their failure to prevent Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024.
The use of new technology is also a factor, as Russia is also developing new fiber-optic repeater drones that can quadruple the range of frontline drones, allowing for more precise strikes deeper into the Ukrainian near rear and further complicating Ukrainian logistics.
