Russia has exhausted its stockpile of Soviet-era weapons, which will force the aggressor to go on the defensive.

Despite the talk of Russia having put its economy on a war footing, it is no longer able to compensate for the large losses of tanks, armored infantry vehicles, and artillery it has incurred in the war with the reserves accumulated during the Soviet era. Although these reserves are vast, they are not limitless.

According to most intelligence estimates, Russia lost about 3,000 tanks and 5,000 other armored vehicles in the first two years of the full-scale war. The actual numbers may be much higher.

The Washington-based Center for European Policy Analysis says Russia’s ability to build new tanks and infantry fighting vehicles or repair existing units is hampered by problems with obtaining components. In addition, the old Soviet arms supply chain no longer exists, as Ukraine, Georgia, and East Germany were essential industrial centers that produced weapons and their components.

In addition, the number of military industry employees has sharply decreased from ten million to two million. If nothing changes, the Russian military will probably have to transition to a defensive position by the end of the year.