---
title: "Empty rosters: Russia plans new divisions but will fail to find personnel to fill them"
description: "Russia plans to create new divisions and brigades by 2026, but experts doubt the possibility of staffing them. Amid a shortage of personnel, the Kremlin is discussing a new mobilization, while the State Duma warns of the risks of an economic crisis. 🇷🇺📉🪖"
date: 2026-06-26T07:34:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-plans-new-military-units-in-2026-but-will-fail-to-find-personnel-en
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Empty rosters: Russia plans new divisions but will fail to find personnel to fill them

![Russian recruitment billboard offering 5,200,000 RUB for first year of contract service, highlighting manpower shortage for new divisions](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/26/rossiya-planirovet-novye-voennye-podrazdeleniya-v-2026-godu-no-ne-naydet-lyudey/rossiya-planirovet-novye-voennye-podrazdeleniya-v-2026-godu-no-ne-naydet-lyudey-1.webp)

Russia's military machine continues to demonstrate a drive for quantitative growth, yet reality is introducing its own corrections. According to data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Moscow plans to create new military units in 2026, but their actual staffing remains a serious question. Experts point to a trend of forming units "on paper".

### Plans for 2026 and reforms

According to an ISW report, the Russian military command continues to create new formations, primarily nominally. The main problem lies in the uncertainty: will Moscow be able to staff these units with personnel in accordance with approved establishment norms.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, speaking on June 25, confirmed that the Russian command has adjusted its plans. In 2026, they intend to form five new brigades and an unspecified number of new divisions. At the same time, analysts note that it is currently unclear whether this refers to the creation of fundamentally new structures or the continuation of reforms announced back in late 2022.

The history of massive expansion began in December 2022. Then, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the intention to create 17 new maneuver divisions. In particular, it was planned to expand five Marine brigades to the division level. Russian authorities reported that the implementation of these ambitious plans was supposed to take place during 2023–2026.

### Human resources crisis

According to ISW experts, several critical factors may hinder the implementation of plans to expand the army. It is precisely because of them that Russia will find it difficult to fully staff new units after their formal formation.

The problem of personnel shortages has already moved into the public sphere. As RBC-Ukraine reported, the Kremlin began discussing the possibility of a new mobilization. Such statements were made against the backdrop of obvious difficulties in replenishing the ranks of the active army.

Parallel to military challenges, alarming signals are sounding from the economic sphere. Deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation warned of the risks of serious economic difficulties that the country may face in the near future. This creates a complex background for the implementation of any large-scale state programs, including military reforms.