International- Russia sent newly mobilized reservist troops to Ukraine with "barely usable" rifles, UK intel says.
- Britain's defense ministry said some of these soldiers are using guns designed in 1959.
Russian reservist troops sent to fight in Ukraine have arrived at the front lines with "barely usable" rifles, Britain's defense ministry said Monday, a move likely to produce new logistical strains for Moscow's military leadership.
Thousands of newly mobilized reservists have been deployed to the battlefield over the last few weeks, Britain's defense ministry shared in an intelligence update. Facing mounting setbacks in his war efforts, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the partial military mobilization of hundreds of thousands of his country's reservists in September.
British intelligence said in many cases these reservists have arrived in Ukraine "poorly equipped," and Russian officers grew concerned because some individuals were even sent without weapons.
Citing open source imagery, however, Britain's defense ministry said that mobilized reservists who did show up with rifles were often issued with AKM assault rifles. Designed by former Soviet general Mikhail Kalashnikov in 1959, this weapon was built to replace the AK-47 — which was introduced shortly after the end of World War II — and was later replaced by the AK-74 during the 1970s.
Britain's defense ministry said many of the AKM rifles given to Russian reservists are "likely in barely usable condition following poor storage."
These weapons also differ from newer rifles assigned to Putin's regular combat units, like the AK-12 or AK-74M, in that they use different types of ammunition. AKMs use 7.62mm ammunition, whereas the AK-12 and AK-74M use 5.45mm ammunition.
"The integration of reservists with contract soldiers and combat veterans in Ukraine will mean Russian logisticians will have to push two types of small arms ammunition to front line positions, rather than one," Britain's defense ministry said, adding that it will "likely further complicate Russia's already strained logistics systems."
Logistical and supply headaches — as well as Russia's faltering performance in Ukraine — have increasingly sowed tension throughout Moscow's military leadership. In September, Putin even fired one general for these issues.
Relying on old and outdated equipment is also not a new aspect of Putin's unprovoked war in Ukraine. Beyond the newly mobilized reservists, Russian forces — like conscripts — have had to use decades-old rifles that exited production long ago. In losing their more modern equipment, Russian troops have even been forced to pull obsolete heavy weapons — like Soviet-era tanks — from storage.
Monday's intelligence update came as Russian forces fired a barrage of missiles at Ukraine's critical infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said, triggering water and electricity shortages. The country's defense ministry shared that it managed to successfully down dozens of missiles.