Russias New Law: A Stealthy Strategy for Reinforcing Military Forces Amidst Ukraine Conflict

This week, President Vladimir Putin enacted a law permitting the training of Russian reservists to safeguard crucial infrastructure.

Concerns have arisen that this move could enhance the Russian army’s manpower and facilitate the Kremlin’s ability to deploy more personnel to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Conversely, some analysts contend that the new legislation will have limited impact on military operations.

The Moscow Times examines the implications of the new law and how Russia might leverage its reservist force.

In 2015, Putin created a mobilization reserve known as the Special Combat Army Reserve (BARS), which is available to former military personnel who have entered into a specific “reservist” contract with the Ministry of Defense.

Reservists, who lead civilian lives, receive a modest stipend of up to 10,000 rubles (approximately $123) monthly. Although they are not classified as contract soldiers, these reservists must regularly participate in military training to refresh and enhance their combat capabilities. Employers are compensated for the time their reservist employees spend in training.

The precise number of reservists remains undisclosed. Recruitment into the reserve commenced in 2021, just prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Reports suggested that the reserve grew from a few thousand to about 100,000 during that period, as reported by the exiled news organization Meduza.

In the initial months of the conflict, numerous reservists volunteered to join BARS battalions and subsequently enlisted with the Ministry of Defense.

Joining BARS presented an opportunity for individuals who didn’t qualify for conventional enlistment to participate in the fighting, as these battalions offered greater leniency regarding age and health stipulations, according to three volunteer soldiers who spoke with The Moscow Times in 2023.

Lawmaker Alexei Zhuravlev, first deputy chairman of the State Duma’s Defense Committee, mentioned to RTVI last month that there are about 2 million individuals in Russia’s reserves.

However, experts have expressed skepticism regarding this assertion.

Military analyst Alexei Alshansky indicated to The Moscow Times that the actual number of reservists is likely quite modest, given that many former reservists have already been deployed to the front lines and signed contracts with the Defense Ministry.

“Even in 2022, the number of BARS members was insufficient to constitute any meaningful reserves for the Russian military,” he stated. “If there were enough, the authorities wouldn’t have needed to resort to street mobilizations during 2022.”

He also noted that the current extensive recruitment drive for contract service members suggests a dwindling supply of reservists.

A source from the military commissariat informed the exiled media outlet Vyorstka that Zhuravlev may have misspoken.

The newly expedited bill, which passed through parliament in a single day, specifies that reservists «can be assigned to special training sessions aimed at ensuring the protection of vital facilities and other essential infrastructure.»

According to insiders from the presidential administration and State Duma, the hastiness of the bill was directed by the Kremlin.

The Russian government is tasked with establishing the framework for conducting these special training sessions, as outlined in the bill.

The Ministry of Defense clarified that the legislation pertains only to reservists and does not include provisions for their deployment to combat zones or service abroad.

“There is no mention of mobilization,” the ministry asserted.

Alshansky commented that from a military standpoint, deploying such reservists to the front lines is largely impractical when more qualified contract soldiers are available.

Nonetheless, Putin has previously gone back on his assurances, including his commitment to deploy only “professional servicemen” to the conflict rather than conscripts.

Vladimir Tsimlyansky from the Russian General Staff stated that reservists are intended to manage critical infrastructure, such as energy and transport systems.

Reservists will operate «only within their own regions» primarily to «counter drone threats,» he noted.

Since the summer, Russia has faced a continuous onslaught of drone strikes targeting its energy and transport infrastructures, as well as oil refineries.

Recruitment for reservists to protect these facilities has already begun in at least 15 regions, including Leningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Tambov, and Yaroslavl. Officials emphasize that these recruits will not be sent to the front lines.

While reservists in the Bryansk region, adjacent to Ukraine, maintain their regular salaries during military duties, their monthly payments range from 40,000 to 99,000 rubles ($490-$1,200), depending on rank. Conversely, in the Perm region, which is farther from the border, payments for reservists are set at 4,000-7,000 rubles ($50-$85).

An insider from one of Russia’s major oil and gas companies told Vyorstka that the security team “doesn’t have high expectations” from the reservists.

“Even having an additional 10 armed personnel would be beneficial. However, only genuine military air defense can truly safeguard us—and we are unlikely to receive that,” the source remarked.

Experts believe the Kremlin is likely to seek additional personnel to strengthen the military without instigating a new wave of mobilization, as this could lead to significant public backlash.

The recent legislation may target individuals who are reluctant to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense but are open to serving on a temporary basis, suggested lawyer Alexei Tabalov, head of the conscripts’ rights organization Shkola Prizyvnika.

Sergei Krivenko, director of the Citizen. Army. Rights advocacy group, stated to The Moscow Times that the legislation underscores recruitment challenges, highlighting a shortage of contract soldiers to replace military casualties.

“That’s why they’re exploring alternative recruitment strategies. Reservists are one of the options,” he explained.