Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the number of active servicemen in the military by 180,000, bringing the total to 1.5 million. This expansion will make Russia’s military the second largest in the world, surpassed only by China, which has over 2 million active soldiers. The decree, set to take effect on December 1, also increases the total size of the armed forces to 2.38 million personnel.
This marks the third time Putin has increased troop numbers since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Russian forces are currently engaged in battles in eastern Ukraine and are attempting to repel Ukrainian forces from Russia’s Kursk region.
The increase in troop numbers would surpass both the United States and India, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a prominent military think tank.
Putin Orders Major Military Expansion: Russia to Boost Active Troop Numbers to 1.5 Million Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
However, experts have raised concerns about the sustainability of such an expansion. Dara Massicot, a Russian military expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, questioned whether the Russian government can afford the cost of such a large increase in active military personnel.
She warned that the Kremlin may have to consider unpopular measures, such as expanding the draft or allowing more women to join the military, in order to reach this target.
Massicot also suggested that the move could be more of a show of strength rather than a practical military strategy. While Russia has been relying on recruiting volunteer soldiers with relatively high wages, this method has put a strain on the country’s finances. Expanding the force even further would likely add to the already significant budgetary pressure, making the financial implications a key concern.
Despite its larger population, Russia has faced significant losses on the battlefield similar to Ukraine, leading some to question the long-term viability of the war effort. Many commentators have noted the Kremlin’s reluctance to mobilize more reservists, as the 2022 call-up led to a mass exodus of people fleeing the country to avoid military service. The true scale of Russian casualties remains classified, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness of the troop expansion.
