Russia has limited defense industry but can maintain combat capability
Russia currently has a limited defense industrial base for weapons production and an insufficient number of production lines for tanks. However, this does not prevent the aggressor from producing enough equipment at the current pace to support its military efforts in the medium and long term.
This is reported with reference to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets noted that the Russian defense industrial base is not as productive as the Kremlin positions it, but today it is still able to maintain the combat potential of the Russian army.
According to the Security Council, Russia's defense industry peaked in September 2023, which was 38.9% higher than the average monthly production in 2022, and steadily declined in the following months.
Mashovets said that the Russian defense industry is trying to compensate for the shortage of medium- and highly skilled labor, as well as the inability to obtain the necessary industrial production equipment, spare parts and maintenance to maintain the pace and volume of arms production.
According to the observer, Chinese companies are less willing to provide Russia with equipment and spare parts. Western companies are unwilling to service or supply spare parts for these machines because of sanctions. However, the aggressor purchased many industrial production systems from Western countries before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
