10 Highlights From Russia’s Annual Evaluate of the Ukraine Warfare

Russia’s protection ministry broadcast its wide-ranging annual overview on Wednesday of the Ukraine battle, offering clues about its army objectives and efficiency this yr.

Andrei Belousov, the Russian protection minister, offered the official statistics in the course of the Protection Ministry Board’s expanded assembly in Moscow.

Enterprise Insider couldn’t independently confirm the protection ministry’s claims, which frequently differ considerably from these of worldwide observers. Russia’s chief, Vladimir Putin, mentioned on the assembly that the Kremlin’s troops have been “crushing” Ukraine, regardless of the battle dragging on for practically 4 years.

The disclosures additionally come as Russia has sought to mission energy and demanded heavy concessions from Ukraine whereas negotiating potential peace phrases with the Trump administration.

Nevertheless, Belousov’s presentation affords perception into Russia’s ambitions for the battle and its official narratives surrounding the way it fights and plans to combat subsequent yr. A number of new official figures have been additionally introduced.

Listed below are 10 highlights from Belousov’s end-of-year overview.

1. Russia’s battle finances is about $138 billion

Belousov mentioned that Russia’s battle spending is on monitor to achieve about 5.1% of the nation’s GDP in 2025, out of an general protection finances that reaches 7.3% of its annual GDP.

The nation’s nominal GDP in 2024 was about 201.2 trillion rubles, and is predicted to develop 1% this yr to about 203 trillion rubles, or $2.52 trillion.

Russian unbiased media, nonetheless, reported that the financial ministry has forecast a GDP of about $2.7 trillion for the yr.

A battle finances of 5.1% would subsequently be someplace between $128 billion and $137.7 billion.

That is the primary time Russia has publicly disclosed the quantity that it spends particularly on the battle. Beforehand, the Kremlin solely introduced figures for whole protection spending.

The US, by comparability, is planning to spend $901 billion on its army, or about 3.4% of its GDP.

2. Doubling down on bike and quad bike assaults

Belousov mentioned that his ministry delivered roughly 38,000 bikes, buggies, and all-terrain automobiles to its troops on the entrance traces in 2025.

“That is 10 occasions greater than final yr,” he mentioned, including that Russia plans to achieve “full energy” in these automobiles subsequent yr.

Russian troops have more and more been utilizing bikes, quad bikes, and different small, unarmored automobiles to assault or method Ukrainian positions, making an attempt to make use of their pace and small measurement to keep away from drone assaults.

Ukrainians have additionally adopted the tactic, with one regiment even establishing an official bike assault firm in Could.

3. 409,000 new contract troopers

Belousov mentioned that Russia employed 409,611 new contract troopers in 2025, down from 449,243 in 2024.

Nevertheless, that already exceeds the Kremlin’s 403,000 particular person recruitment objective for the yr.

“Almost two-thirds of them have been younger males underneath 40,” Belousov mentioned of the brand new recruits. “Greater than a 3rd have larger or specialised secondary schooling.”

Ukraine and Russia have each been hard-pressed to fill their ranks as Moscow pressures Kyiv’s forces with a steady grind of frontal infantry assaults.

To take care of its movement of troops, Russia usually entices recruits with hefty sign-on bonuses or pardons for crimes dedicated within the nation.

4. FPV drones dominate Russia’s hits

Belousov mentioned that about 50% of Ukrainian casualties from Russian assaults come from first-person-view drones, or FPV drones. These are the small quadcopters mounted with explosives which have grow to be an indicator of the battle.

In the summertime, Russia mentioned that it was outproducing Ukraine on FPV drones, although Kyiv’s officers have since mentioned their nation has caught again up.

Ukrainian leaders have mentioned that 70% of all casualties inflicted in the course of the battle concerned FPV drones.

5. Making a complete new FPV drone power

Belousov mentioned that Russia plans to create a brand new drone formation known as the Unmanned Methods Forces subsequent yr, which might prepare “tens of 1000’s” of individuals.

Russia has already created an official drone unit known as Rubicon, which was fashioned final August to prioritize preventing with FPV drones and has usually been described as fielding its most elite pilots.

Now, Moscow seems to be making an attempt to make such warfare an official pillar of its preventing power.

Belousov mentioned the Kremlin wanted to transition FPV drone assaults from particular person duties carried out by every unit to “built-in joint operations” amongst its forces.

Ukraine launched its personal Unmanned Methods Forces final yr, appointing the earlier commander of the elite unit, Magyar Birds, as its chief.

6. 27,000 drones over Russian territory

Roughly 27,400 Ukrainian long-range drones have been intercepted this yr over Russian territory, with the majority showing after the summer season, Belousov mentioned.

Belousov mentioned that Ukraine initially started sending about 1,000 drones a month into Russia, however that the month-to-month quantity started hitting 3,700 by Could.

The protection minister claimed that Russia’s interception fee “averages 97%” for the yr.

Ukraine has usually used fixed-wing drones to assault deeper into Russia, focusing on what it says are oil and gasoline amenities and army manufacturing websites.

Notably, Belousov talked about that Russia has additionally been exploring FPV drones that may function high-speed interceptors, a expertise that Ukraine has been refining to counter Moscow’s Shahed waves.

7. Russia obtained two fashionable strategic bombers

Belousov mentioned that Russia obtained two Tu-160Ms, that are modernized, supersonic bombers that may deploy nuclear weapons or highly effective stealth missiles.

That is a clue in regards to the manufacturing fee of the bombers, that are a part of a small fleet that types an important pillar of Russia’s nuclear triad. A number of of Russia’s older bombers have been reported severely broken in Operation Spiderweb, an audacious Ukrainian drone assault in early June that focused a fleet of about 41 warplanes.

Ukrainian sources claimed that a number of Tu-160s have been additionally hit, though this was not confirmed by unbiased open-source intelligence on the time.

8. Russia created 30 new regiments, with 39 extra deliberate

Russia’s army additionally seems to be modifying its organizational construction.

Belousov mentioned that the Kremlin had created 5 new divisions, 13 new brigades, and 30 new regiments in 2025. Worldwide suppose tanks estimate that Russian divisions can encompass between 10,000 and 20,000 troops, whereas regiments inside usually have about 2,000 troopers and are additional break up into battalions.

Brigades, which usually exist as a separate formation, usually have about 3,500 to 4,500 troops.

Belousov mentioned this new construction included a brand new division, known as the Aerospace Forces, which has a regiment “geared up with the distinctive S-500 antiaircraft missile system, able to placing targets in close to house.”

Subsequent yr, the Kremlin plans so as to add 4 extra divisions, 14 brigades, and 39 new regiments, he added.

A few of these figures embody formations that Russia has reworked, so they are not essentially an indicator of how broadly Russia is increasing its army group construction. For instance, Belousov mentioned two marine brigades have been become a single division.

9. Drone deliveries by air and land

Belousov mentioned that Russia had expanded its use of drones and all-terrain automobiles to ship gear from a “one-time operation” in 2024 to carrying 12,000 tons of cargo this yr to the entrance traces.

“By 2026, this determine should be a minimum of doubled,” he mentioned.

Each Ukraine and Russia have been growing uncrewed floor automobiles, or ground-based drones, that may be remotely operated to ship provides to the entrance line and even conduct assaults.

The rising expertise is particularly helpful for harmful duties that might in any other case should be stuffed by a human soldier.

Some army models have additionally reported utilizing drones to ship gear by air, reminiscent of one Ukrainian commander who mentioned his forces used drones to ship an e-bike to a stranded soldier.

10. Russia is focusing on Ukraine’s power grid

Belousov’s presentation made it clear that Russia has been conducting precision strikes in opposition to Ukraine’s energy amenities.

Greater than 70% of Ukraine’s thermal energy crops and 37% of its hydroelectric crops have been disabled, Belousov mentioned.

“The effectiveness of Russian precision strikes is about 60%, which is an order of magnitude larger than the effectiveness of Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory,” Belousov mentioned.

“Ukraine’s power capability has been lowered by greater than half,” he added.

Attacking power infrastructure is a battle crime if it is discovered to be deliberately carried out to trigger hurt to civilians. Ukraine’s besieged energy grid is particularly essential, because it’s important for holding its residents heat throughout harsh winters.

Belousov mentioned the strikes on power amenities have been focusing on the Ukrainian army, and that disabling the grid lower off energy to Kyiv’s forces.

Nevertheless, the United Nations Workplace of the Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights mentioned final September that Russian assaults on Ukraine’s energy grid have been discovered to be severely affecting civilians and had “disproportionately impacted” weak teams.

Ukraine additionally carries out assaults on Russian oil and gasoline amenities, although it mentioned its intention is to cripple Moscow’s capacity to export power and maintain battle manufacturing.