Russia claims to lack 400,000 people for defense industry, what does this really mean?

Morozov attributed this gap to a decade-long shortage of engineering professionals, proposing that bolstering the engineering education system could address the issue. However, the implications of this statement extend far beyond the surface-level call for workforce expansion, Defense Express notes.

At first glance, the announcement suggests that Russia is preparing to ramp up arms production. Indeed, during its ongoing war against Ukraine, Russia has already made significant efforts to expand its military-industrial workforce. For instance, the sector employed 3.5 million workers by March 2024, compared to 2.4 million in February 2022—a sharp increase achieved through controversial methods.

These methods included enlisting prisoners, redirecting workers from other sectors of the economy, and even recruiting students. By March 2023, this approach had enabled increased production of missiles and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles. Yet, it appears that Russia now faces diminishing returns from these earlier strategies and requires a new wave of workforce expansion.

One plausible explanation is that Russia is compensating for a lack of modern equipment, such as used Western-style machinery, which it previously acquired to bypass sanctions. With sanctions tightening, the Russian military-industrial complex may be opting for an extensive approach—recruiting more workers to offset technological deficits.

While the need for personnel expansion signals challenges in sustaining and scaling military production, the ultimate success of this strategy remains uncertain. Whether Russia's workforce buildup can bridge the gap left by equipment shortages or enhance its war capabilities will become evident only with time and continued observation.