Russia cannot reorganize its army fast enough for war with Ukraine - ISW

This is stated in the review of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

"Ukrainian intelligence confirmed that senior Russian military leadership is preparing for significant military reforms in the coming year, though ISW continues to assess Russia will struggle to quickly — if at all — implement planned reforms," the report says.

ISW analysts reminded that Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Ukrainian General Staff, Brigadier General Oleksiy Hromov, said on January 12 that the Russian military leadership plans to increase the number of troops to 1.5 million and form at least 20 new military divisions in 2023.

"Hromov’s statements come the day after the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced a major restructuring of the senior command structure for Russian operations in Ukraine,” ISW said.

According to ISW analysts, Russia is gradually reversing reforms introduced in 2008 by former Defense Minister Serdyukov (which were aimed at streamlining the ground forces and moving to a brigade structure), restoring maneuver divisions, "but that the Kremlin is unlikely to implement these reforms on a timeline that is relevant for Russia’s war on Ukraine."

"Restructuring of senior command structures, coupled with efforts to expand the military base in 2023, suggest that Russia is setting conditions for a long-term, concerted effort in Ukraine. The Russian MoD may also hold highly unrealistic expectations of its own ability to quickly restructure its ground forces," the report says.