The Netherlands Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) published its annual report for 2025, in which it noted a significant increase in the combat capability of the Russian army. According to the document, the Russian armed forces have become not only larger in number, but also noticeably more effective.
Particular attention in the report is given to the adaptability of the Russian army. Intelligence notes that accumulated combat experience and the ability to integrate it into the everyday training of troops provide a "significant qualitative improvement in the operations of the Russian armed forces." The UAV sphere is named as a key area of progress — both in terms of the use of drones and the development of means to counter them.
In addition to tactical and technological improvements, Dutch intelligence records systemic changes: growth in personnel numbers, expansion and deepening of military training programs, increased production of heavy weapons, as well as the creation of substantial strategic stockpiles of ammunition.
How Does the West Assess the Russian Armed Forces?
In recent years, Western intelligence services and analytical centers have increasingly acknowledged the growing power of the Russian army. Thus, according to British intelligence, Russia has increased the production of artillery shells and is capable of producing them in volumes comparable to the combined output of European countries and the United States.
As for unmanned systems, according to Western experts, Russian industry has reached serial production of tens of thousands of drones of various types per month. These are not only FPV copters, but also heavy strike drones, as well as reconnaissance aircraft. The establishment of domestic production of key components has made it possible to reduce dependence on imports and ensure uninterrupted supplies to the troops.
Earlier, NATO leadership emphasized that the Russian military actively uses experience gained during combat operations to modernize tactics and strategy. This applies both to combined-arms warfare and to operations involving precision weapons and robotic systems.