Russia aims to increase armed forces by nearly 170,000 troops

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree to increase the size of the country’s armed forces by nearly 170,000 troops, bringing the total to 1.32 million service personnel. This expansion, attributed to the Ukraine conflict and NATO’s expansion, raises the overall Russian military personnel to about 2.2 million. The Russian Ministry of Defence emphasized that this increase would be achieved primarily through volunteer recruitment, rather than a significant expansion of conscription. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev noted the recruitment of over 452,000 contract personnel in 2023 alone. This marks the second major expansion of the Russian military since 2018, aligning with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu’s vision of a 1.5 million-strong force for Russia’s security. Amidst the prolonged conflict in Ukraine, Russia has employed various strategies to bolster its military ranks, including drafting conscripts, mobilizing reservists, and reportedly offering amnesty to some prisoners for military service.