Russia wants to increase its number of soldiers by 15 percent
"The increase in the size of the armed forces is necessary due to an increase in threats to our country and is related to the conduct of the special operation (in Ukraine) and the continued expansion of NATO," explained the Ministry of Defense. The Western military alliance is currently "strengthening the armed forces near the border with Russia" and deploying "additional air defense and strike potential", it continued.
Specifically, the number of soldiers - i.e. excluding civilian personnel - is being increased by around 170,000. In the previous decree on the Russian armed forces in August 2022, the number of troops was set at two million, including 1.15 million soldiers.
The now decreed expansion of the army is to take place in stages and on a voluntary basis, the Ministry of Defense assured. Military mobilization is "not planned".
In view of difficulties with the offensive in Ukraine, Russia had ordered mobilization in September 2022. Hundreds of thousands of young people then fled the country to avoid being drafted into the army. According to Russia, the situation on the front has since stabilized and the army is once again relying more on voluntary recruitment. Potential soldiers are promised high pay and social benefits, among other things, if they sign up.
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Source: www.stern.de
