In an astonishing feat, Russia has managed to replenish its armored vehicle inventory by regenerating thousands of stored vehicles in 2023, even in the face of substantial losses. According to a report titled "The Military Balance 2024" by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Russia reactivated at least 1,180-1,280 main battle tanks and approximately 2,470 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers from storage.

Since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country's combat vehicle losses have reached nearly 8,800, with over 3,000 of them being tanks. This staggering number surpasses the quantity Russia had when it initially launched its offensive against Ukraine.

The IISS report, unveiled on Tuesday, highlights that Russia possesses various refurbishment facilities, including 10 central tank reserve bases, at least 37 mixed equipment and armaments storage bases, and a minimum of 12 artillery storage centers. The report estimates that Moscow has the capacity to sustain its assault on Ukraine at the current attrition rates for an additional 2-3 years, possibly even longer.

However, the strategy of relying on refurbished and stored legacy equipment comes at a cost. Bastian Giegerich, the director of IISS, points out that the vehicles produced in Russian facilities are often not new, thereby sacrificing quality for quantity.

The Russian military also faces challenges in recruitment efforts. The IISS report notes that persistently high casualty rates have prevented most units from reaching establishment strength. Shortages of replacement officers and limited training time for newly mobilized personnel have significantly hampered the combat effectiveness of many units. Bullish statements by government and industry officials about recruitment and equipment production have been observed to contradict the reality on the ground.

Despite these challenges, the Russian military has partially replenished personnel numbers in existing formations and units. Moreover, new wartime regiments were established through limited mobilization efforts conducted in late 2022, alongside ongoing recruitment initiatives.

Intercepts published by Reuters last fall revealed Ukrainian conscripts complaining about poor training, heavy losses, and mediocre equipment. These concerns shed light on the difficulties faced by the Russian military.

As Russia continues to navigate its military operations in Ukraine, the ability to regenerate stored vehicles offers a temporary solution to mitigate losses. However, the long-term sustainability and overall effectiveness of this approach remain subjects of debate and concern.