Putin orders major expansion of Russian military by 180,000 troops

Sep 17, 2024

Jack Aylmer Anchor

By Jack Aylmer (Anchor), Alex Delia (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to expand the size of the country’s armed forces by 180,000 troops, increasing the total military personnel to nearly 2.4 million. The decision comes as Moscow continues its protracted military campaign in Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

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Putin pledges to fight for however long it takes, but is that a realistic pledge for a hamstrung Russian economy and a demoralized Russia? — Getty Images

The new decree will increase the number of combat troops to 1.5 million, a move designed to bolster Russian forces as they face increasing pressure from Ukrainian counteroffensives. The expansion will officially take effect on Dec. 1, 2024.

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This is the third major troop increase since the start of the war. Last year, Putin ordered a mobilization of 300,000 reservists after Ukrainian forces made significant territorial gains in eastern Ukraine. That mobilization sparked protests and led to a mass exodus of Russians fleeing the draft. Since then, the Kremlin has shifted its recruitment efforts toward volunteer soldiers, offering high wages to fill the ranks.

Ukraine caught much of the world by surprise when it invaded Russia on Aug. 6, and is so far proving Russian nuclear threats were hollow. — Reuters

The latest troop boost follows a recent incursion by Ukrainian forces into Russia’s southern Kursk region, marking the first foreign invasion of Russian territory since World War II. Russian officials have also reported ongoing efforts to push back Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region, where fighting has intensified in recent months.

While Moscow has not disclosed official casualty figures, reports suggest that personnel shortages have been a key challenge for the Russian military. Despite the increase in manpower, the conflict shows no signs of stopping.

Tags: Kursk, Russia, Russian Defense Ministry, Russian Detainment, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Ukraine Defense Ministry, Ukrainian Security Service, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, War, World War II

Jack Aylmer

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS ORDERED A MAJOR INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE COUNTRY’S ARMED FORCES… IN A SIGNIFICANT MOVE AMID THE WAR WITH UKRAINE.

THE NEW DECREE, SIGNED MONDAY, ADDS 180-THOUSAND TROOPS TO THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, GIVING A BOOST IN COMBAT TROOPS TO 1-POINT-5 MILLION… AND BRINGING ITS TOTAL MILITARY PERSONNEL UP TO NEARLY 2-POINT-4 MILLION.

THIS IS RUSSIA’S THIRD MAJOR TROOP INCREASE SINCE LAUNCHING ITS INVASION OF UKRAINE IN FEBRUARY 2022… WITH THE LATEST EXPANSION TAKING EFFECT ON DECEMBER FIRST.

THE DECISION COMES AS RUSSIA FACES GROWING UKRAINIAN OFFENSIVES, INCLUDING A RECENT INCURSION INTO RUSSIA’S SOUTHERN KURSK REGION… MARKING THE FIRST TIME RUSSIAN TERRITORY HAS BEEN INVADED SINCE WORLD WAR TWO.

RUSSIA’S PREVIOUS MOBILIZATION EFFORTS LED TO WIDESPREAD PROTESTS AND A MASS EXODUS OF CITIZENS. TO AVOID SIMILAR UNREST, THE KREMLIN SAYS IT WILL FOCUS ON RECRUITING VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS WITH HIGH WAGES.

AS THE WAR INTENSIFIES IN EASTERN UKRAINE, RUSSIAN FORCES CONTINUE TO MAKE INCREMENTAL GAINS… BUT THE CONFLICT SHOWS NO SIGNS OF ENDING SOON.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.