August 24, 2025, 6:06 pm
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For a military in the middle of a major war, using more infantry might seem like a relatively cheap, quick way to add more combat power to a force – but how cheap is it really?
The answer depends on how you value human life and the long term impacts of losses on the economy. And so today, courtesy of a Patron vote, that’s what we’re going to try and do.
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/c/PerunAU
Reading and Sourcing:
UK Treasury Green Book (2022, updated 2024)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-green-book-appraisal-and-evaluation-in-central-government/the-green-book-2020
UK Govt TAG data book
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tag-data-book
Russian KIA age data per Mediazona
https://en.zona.media/article/2025/08/01/casualties_eng-trl
NATO personnel expenditure figures per
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_226465.htm
RAND – VA Spending data / charts
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1363-11.html
Rostec Labour productivity data per
https://jamestown.org/program/rostecs-updated-2023-financial-data-shows-decline-in-revenue/
Lattanzio & Stevens Wounded Veterans, Wounded Economy: The Personnel Costs of Russia’s War
Wounded Veterans, Wounded Economy: The Personnel Costs of Russia’s War
OECD GDP per hour worked
https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/gdp-per-hour-worked.html
Michael Lanthier – War Widows and the Expansion of the French Welfare State
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/w/wsfh/0642292.0031.016/–war-widows-and-the-expansion-of-the-french-welfare-state?rgn=main;view=fulltext
14.5 million ruble cost for KIA Russian soldier
https://fortune.com/2024/11/16/russia-economy-military-death-payouts-vs-civilian-earnings-ukraine-war/
TASS reporting on veteran healthcare
https://tass.ru/obschestvo/17494757
Featured DW article
https://www.dw.com/en/back-from-the-front-why-do-russian-soldiers-continue-to-kill/a-69367465
RAND – Retention vs training costs
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR2400/RR2415/RAND_RR2415.pdf
Reporting on Russian emigres
https://en.thebell.io/russias-650-000-wartime-emigres/
UK inflation adjustments per
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator
IISS – Personnel vs. capital: the Indian defence budget
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2023/04/indian-defence-budget/
Relevant reporting
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-black-widows-scam-soldiers-death-benefits/33390012.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-signs-law-forgiving-debt-arrears-new-russian-recruits-ukraine-war-2024-11-23/
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5886745
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/14/russias-birth-rate-plunges-to-200-year-low-a88709
Russian teenage casualties
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce9xkg7dmd5o
RAND – The Russian Military’s Looming Personnel Crises of Retention and Veteran Mental Heath
https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/06/the-russian-militarys-looming-personnel-crises-of-retention.html
Understanding Military Children’s Mental Health: Evidence-Based Resources and Trauma-Informed Approaches
The Origins of Western Military Pensions – Ch3
https://pensionresearchcouncil.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/03Chap3.pdf
Caveats & Comments:
All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I note that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete examination of the topic and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other any other views and/or decisions.
Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character.
Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on.
Reporting on Agnipath
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61821639
US retention and recruitment spending figure
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/05/25/us-military-spent-6-billion-past-3-years-recruit-and-retain-troops.html
Ukraine training cost figure
https://english.nv.ua/nation/bmt-in-ukraine-how-much-does-it-cost-to-train-one-soldier-50464327.html
French budget figure 1926
https://time.com/archive/6659439/france-budget-franc/
Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Opening
00:00:55 — What Am I Talking About?
00:03:28 — "Cheap" Manpower
00:06:46 — The Cost Base
00:08:54 — Retention
00:24:27 — the Cost Tail
00:38:45 — Wider Costs
00:41:04 — Demographics
00:54:07 — Capital-intensive Warfare
00:58:37 — Preparation is Paramount
00:59:50 — Training and Service
01:01:41 — Channel Update
Content Creator – Perun
