Vladimir Putin may be building a strategic reserve of new military recruits in preparation for direct conflict with the NATO military alliance, analysts have warned.
A Russian insider source said that around 292,000 people signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence between the start of 2025 and September 15, an average of 7,900 per week, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
The source, who has 'consistently provided accurate reports about changes in the Russian military command', said that some of those recruits were part of a strategic reserve of forces that Russia has been building since early July 2025. They did not specify how many.
The ISW assessed that falling Russian casualties through the summer may have allowed the Russian military command to pursue the creation of a significant reserve force.
It added that the reports 'indicate that the Kremlin is not interested in ending its war against Ukraine but remains committed to achieving its war goals on the battlefield and may be preparing for a conflict with [NATO]'.
