Unpacking Russias New Reservist Law: A Strategic Move or Empty Promises?

This week, President Vladimir Putin enacted legislation permitting the mobilization of Russian reservists for «special training» to safeguard critical infrastructure.

There are concerns that this move could enhance the personnel resources of the Russian military and facilitate a greater deployment to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, some analysts contend that the legislation will have minimal impact on military capabilities.

The Moscow Times examines the implications of the new law and how it could affect the utilization of reservists in Russia.

Putin introduced a mobilization reserve known as the Special Combat Army Reserve (BARS) in 2015. This reserve consists of individuals who have prior military experience and have signed a specific «reservist» contract with the Defense Ministry.

Reservists lead civilian lives while receiving a modest monthly stipend of up to 10,000 rubles (approximately $123). Although they do not count as contract soldiers, they are obligated to participate in regular military training sessions to maintain their combat proficiency. Employers of these reservists are compensated for their staff’s time spent in training.

The actual number of reservists remains undisclosed. Recruitment for the reserve began in 2021, just before the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when reports indicated the reserve’s strength increased from a few thousand to around 100,000, as noted by the exiled news outlet Meduza.

In the early stages of the war, many reservists chose to volunteer for combat within BARS battalions and subsequently entered military contracts with the Defense Ministry.

Joining BARS was seen as an alternative route to engage in combat for individuals who did not meet the Defense Ministry’s recruitment standards, according to accounts from three volunteer soldiers shared with The Moscow Times in 2023, as these battalions were more lenient regarding age and health criteria.

State Duma Defense Committee Deputy Chairman Alexei Zhuravlev recently claimed that approximately 2 million people are part of Russia’s reserves.

However, this assertion has faced scrutiny from experts.

Analyst Alexei Alshansky noted to The Moscow Times that the number of reservists is likely quite limited since many reservists have already been deployed and signed contracts with the Defense Ministry.

“Even in 2022, BARS members were insufficient to be considered a real reserve for the Russian army,” he said. “If there were adequate numbers, the authorities wouldn’t have needed to resort to street recruitment during the 2022 mobilization.”

He also indicated that the current extensive campaign to enlist contract soldiers further suggests a shortage of reservists.

A military commissariat source informed the exiled media outlet Vyorstka that Zhuravlev likely misstated the figures.

The new bill, which was rapidly passed through parliament in a single day, stipulates that reservists «may be directed to special training sessions for the protection of critically important facilities and other essential infrastructure.»

The legislation was expedited following instructions from the Kremlin, according to insiders in both the presidential office and the State Duma, as reported by Vyorstka.

The document specifies that the Russian government will outline how these special training sessions will be conducted.

The Defense Ministry clarified that the bill pertains solely to reservists and does not include provisions for their deployment to the front lines or overseas service.

“There is no mobilization planned,” the ministry assured.

From a military standpoint, Alshansky argues that there is little value in deploying reservists to the front, given the presence of better-trained contract soldiers in that capacity.

Nonetheless, Putin has previously retracted assurances, including his promise not to deploy conscripts in the conflict and to send only «professional soldiers» to the front lines.

Vladimir Tsimlyansky from the Russian General Staff indicated that reservists would be responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure, such as energy and transport facilities.

He stated that reservists would operate “only within their own region” and mainly focus on “countering drones.”

Since this summer, there has been a continuous wave of drone assaults targeting Russia’s energy and transport sectors, as well as oil refineries.

Recruitment efforts for reservists to protect these facilities have commenced in at least 15 regions, including Leningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Tambov, and Yaroslavl. Officials emphasize that these new recruits will not be sent to the frontline.

In the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine, reservists retain their regular pay while serving military duties, with monthly compensation ranging from 40,000 to 99,000 rubles ($490-$1,200), depending on rank. In comparison, the Perm region, further from the border, pays reservists between 4,000 to 7,000 rubles ($50-$85) monthly.

A representative from one of Russia’s leading oil and gas firms mentioned to Vyorstka that the company’s security team “doesn’t have high expectations” from the reservists.

“Even having 10 additional individuals with firearms would be beneficial. However, fundamentally, only a proper military air defense can provide us with adequate protection—and that seems unlikely,” the source stated.

Experts believe the Kremlin is likely to seek additional personnel to reinforce the military without initiating a new wave of mobilization, which could incite significant public dissent.

The new legislation appears targeted at those hesitant to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry but willing to serve briefly, noted lawyer Alexei Tabalov, head of the NGO Conscripts’ School.

Sergei Krivenko, director of the Citizen. Army. Rights group, informed The Moscow Times that the legislation reveals existing recruitment issues, as there are insufficient contract soldiers enlisting to replace military casualties.

“This is why they are exploring additional options, with reservists being one of those avenues,” he concluded.