But the 135,000 troops they are replacing will go to Ukraine.
That’s called “Spring Draft”. They call about as many every spring.
They’re conscripts, draftees. Even in the best of circumstances it will be the middle of June before they can replace anyone. And despite the published numbers of Russia’s military being just south of a million, only 260K are ground forces. The rest are in the Navy,and the Air and Rocket forces, and Border forces and internal security. The latter are unlikely to be trained or equipped for ground combat with a determined First World foe.
Exactly!