Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree effective immediately to increase the number of soldiers in the Russian Armed Forces by almost 170,000 people, or about 15%. “The increase in the number of full-time army personnel is due to the growing threats to our country in connection with the special military operation and the further expansion of NATO,” the decree says. However, according to the Ministry of Defense, mobilization in connection with this decree is not planned.
According to the document cited by Tass, the strength of the armed forces is estimated at 2,209,130 people, of which 1,320,000 are soldiers. In the previous decree, invalidated by this new document, the number was 2,039,758 people, of which 1,150,628 were military personnel.
After the publication of the decree, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that “no mobilization is planned” in connection with the decision of the Russian President and emphasized that “the increase in the number of military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is being implemented.” Gradually, citizens expressed the desire to do military service under contract.”
The ministry explained that the increase in personnel is related to the war in Ukraine and the expansion of NATO: “The alliance’s joint forces are being strengthened near the borders of Russia, additional air defense and offensive weapons are being deployed. The potential of.” “NATO’s tactical nuclear forces are being increased” and “by the end of 2025, the USA wants to replace 200 outdated nuclear bombs” in Europe and Turkey “with a new high-precision version.”
Under current conditions, “a further increase in the combat strength and size of the armed forces is an appropriate response to the aggressive activities of the NATO bloc,” the ministry argues.
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