Is it confirmed they're actually going to the field with those bolt-action Mosin-Nagant rifles or were they just equipped for marksman training with that gun? I know we're all well aware they don't have the money for equipment, but it can't possibly be that bad? That's insane.
Some of them will. In some barracks they don't even seem to have beds, just bed frames.
People as old as 63 have been drafted, in the far East entire villages have been emptied out as well as universities, mines and colleges, with only women and children remaining behind.
If this was any other country you would expect that these units would mostly serve as the rearguard and in support roles (cooks, drivers, policing, engineers, builders etc.) to free up regular soldiers for fighting roles but the Russian Empire clearly intends to send these units to the front lines so they can become 'men' and 'learn on the job'. The military strategy is probably to overwhelm the Ukrainian defenders by attacking with large numbers across the 1000km front just as the Soviets did in WW2 against Germany.
Like the Wehrmacht Ukraine doesn't have the manpower to hold the line everywhere. The newly arrived Russian troops won't have much in terms of winter gear and the supply situation in the occupied region isn't optimal so they will be forced to attack quickly.
However, Russia can't mass mobilize like they could in WW2. These units will arrive at the front in small platoon sized groups not in divisions or battalions.
I don't think they will send them out far though, this is probably to force Ukraine out of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and the other regions they're holding referendums in.
Once they've achieved this 'victory' and Ukraine is unable to take back those regions, planning for renewed offensives on Kyiv and Odessa will begin.
