russia repurposes nuclear forces personnel infantry amid manpower shortages officer russia's strategic missile (rvsn) dueing drills september 2024

Russia repurposes nuclear forces personnel as infantry amid manpower shortages

October 22, 2024

By Ukraine

0 Likes

Russia has formed an infantry regiment from Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) personnel – traditionally operators of nuclear launch facilities – for deployment in its war against Ukraine, according to Militarnyi‘s report on 22 October.

Russia, facing manpower shortages after losses in Ukraine, recruits foreign mercenaries across the world and local volunteers. Additionally, the Russian Army converts units from various branches into infantry, as exemplified by the previously reported formation of a mechanized battalion from the crew of Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov. Russia’s ruler Putin favors volunteer recruitment in Russia over mobilization, allegedly fearing societal backlash.

In a recent video, Russian volunteer Vladimir Grubnik, supporting Russia’s army, revealed that “the 1st Strategic Missile Forces regiment is now performing tasks of a regular separate infantry regiment in the Kursk direction.” He noted that the unit is fighting as a conventional infantry force with small arms, organized into separate battalions.

According to Grubnik, the redeployment was necessitated by acute personnel shortages on the frontline and the absence of mobilization in Russia, forcing the military to draw contract soldiers from “non-infantry” units, including both the Strategic Missile Forces and Aerospace Forces.

Such RVSN security companies are equipped with light armored vehicles such as Z-STS “Akhmat” and small arms, and include reconnaissance drone platoons and sapper units, as the Russian Defense Ministry’s video from recent drills shows.

Militarnyi concluded that these units likely began forming in late summer 2023, with initial deployments in occupied Kharkiv Oblast, later shifting to Kursk Oblast in September. The converted regiment is estimated to consist of 1,000 to 2,000 personnel, though actual numbers may vary, and it likely comprises support staff and security company members rather than specialists handling nuclear weapons operations.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.
We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia’s war against Ukraine and Ukraine’s struggle to build a democratic society.
A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support.
Become a Patron!

Original Source

(Visited 5 times, 1 visits today)