Russia appears to be trying to mobilize its industry to support the protracted war in Ukraine, according to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) published late Friday.

The Main Directorate of Military Intelligence (GUR) of Ukraine reported that in early August, Moscow initiated an “industrial mobilization” of defense enterprises, prohibiting some employees and the entire management of the Russian state industrial conglomerate Rostec from going on vacation.

The GUR added that the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation, chaired by Vladimir Putin, is also preparing to make changes to the defense procurement program by the beginning of September in order to increase spending by 600-700 billion rubles (about 10 billion dollars).

At the end of June, the mobilization of Russian industry began

The Russian publication Ura also reported that on August 12, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu may have visited the Uralvagonzavod plant, Russia’s largest manufacturer of tanks and Russia’s T-72 main battle tank.

Earlier, GUR reported that “Uralvagonzavod” faced financial problems due to Western sanctions and non-fulfillment of contractual obligations to the Russian state.

If true, Shoigu’s visit could signal that the Kremlin is trying to restore or expand the military-industrial complex.

Earlier, ISV reported that the Kremlin conducted a pseudo-mobilization of the Russian economy, proposing on June 30 to the State Duma of the Russian Federation to amend the federal laws on the provision of the Russian Armed Forces.

The amendment forces Russian companies, regardless of ownership, to follow the orders of the Russian military and allows the Kremlin to change working conditions for employees.

Putin signed the amendment on July 14, which indicates that Russia will continue to introduce additional measures to expand the Kremlin’s direct control over the activities of the Russian military-industrial complex.

Key findings of ISW:

Russian troops launched ground attacks east of Siversk and northeast and southeast of Bakhmut.

Russian troops carried out ground strikes to the southwest and northwest of the city of Donetsk.

Ukrainian troops destroyed the last functional bridge used by Russian troops to transport military equipment near Kakhovskaya HPP.

Ukrainian officials have confirmed additional Ukrainian strikes on Russian ammunition depots and a logistics point in the Kherson region.

Russian regional officials can distort the staffing percentage of newly formed volunteer battalions.

Ukrainian partisans are probably targeting the Russian occupiers and Ukrainian collaborators who are preparing fake referendums on joining the Russian Federation.

Military map of Ukraine:

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