Russia plans to create 11 new divisions this year – Syrskyi
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi has reported that Russia intends to form 11 new divisions and mobilise more than 400,000 people during 2026.
In an interview with LB.ua, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi outlined the enemy’s strategic plans for the current year, which include the creation of at least 11 new divisions.
To implement these plans and replenish existing units, Russia intends to conscript 409,000 people. According to Syrskyi, the aggressor will attempt to fulfil plans that were not implemented last year. At the same time, Russia’s overall mobilisation potential is estimated at more than 20 million people, of whom 4.5 million constitute a trained reserve ready for direct involvement in combat operations.
Despite the significant conscription figures, the Commander-in-Chief noted that Russia has not demonstrated the capacity to substantially increase the size of its offensive grouping at the front. In 2025, the enemy’s mobilisation plans were exceeded, with around 406,000 new recruits brought into the armed forces. However, over the past six months, the total number of Russian troops on the front line has remained static at approximately 711,000 personnel. This indicates that all newly mobilised human resources are being used solely to compensate for massive losses in manpower.
According to official data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, over the course of 17 January Ukrainian forces killed and wounded around 830 Russian occupiers.
