The strength of Russia military forces has been significantly increased by order from President Vladimir Putin. This move will raise the number of active soldiers to 1.5 million, making Russia’s military the second largest in the world after China. The increase was announced in a decree published on the Kremlin’s website, signaling Moscow’s intention to strengthen its military presence amid ongoing tensions with Ukraine and NATO.
Russia’s Growing Military Force
According to the new decree, Russia’s overall military personnel will expand to 2.38 million, with 1.5 million being active servicemen. This change would push Russia past both the United States and India in terms of active combat troops. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a leading military think tank, notes that China has just over 2 million active-duty soldiers, placing Russia just behind it in global military size.
Putin has increased Russia’s military ranks several times since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This latest move comes as Russia continues its operations along a 1,000-kilometer frontline in eastern Ukraine. While the war has resulted in significant battlefield losses for both Russia and Ukraine, the conflict shows no signs of ending soon.
Reasons for the Expansion
Andrei Kartapolov, head of the defense committee in Russia’s lower house of parliament, explained the reasoning behind this expansion. He stated that the increase is part of a larger overhaul of Russia’s armed forces to meet new international challenges. He pointed to the recent addition of Finland to NATO as a security concern for Russia, which shares a border with the Nordic nation. To maintain security in the northwest, we require additional military units,” Kartapolov emphasised the need for more troops.
The Russian government has repeatedly emphasized the need to strengthen its military in response to what it sees as growing threats from NATO and the West. Kartapolov’s comments reflect a broader strategy to counteract these perceived dangers.
Previous Increases and Mobilisation
This is the third time Putin has increased the number of combat troops since the Ukraine war began. In 2022, he ordered two previous increases of 137,000 and 170,000 troops. Additionally, in late 2022, the Russian government mobilized over 300,000 soldiers, leading to widespread panic as thousands of draft-age men fled the country to avoid conscription.
Despite these past mobilizations, the Kremlin has stated that it does not plan to carry out any new mass recruitment. Instead, the focus will remain on attracting volunteers with lucrative contracts to serve in Ukraine.
Concerns About the Feasibility
Experts have raised questions about whether Russia can sustain this large increase in military personnel. Dara Massicot, an expert on Russia’s military at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, expressed doubts about Moscow’s ability to fund such a massive expansion. If they are really struggling with what that needs, the Kremlin will not like them, Massicot added. There are methods to staff a standing 1.5 million army.
She said keeping a military this big would need a lot more money, which could be hard for Russia’s budget. One way to get more soldiers could be drafting more people or letting more women join, but these ideas might not be popular.
Massicot also wondered if Russia really wants to grow its army or if it’s just trying to scare other countries. She said to watch for signs showing if this is a real effort to get new soldiers or just a way to intimidate rivals.
Future Challenges
While Russia has been able to recruit volunteers to fight in Ukraine, the military has faced increasing strains as the war drags on. Both Russia and Ukraine have sustained heavy losses, though neither side has disclosed the exact number of casualties.
As Russia seeks to increase its military capacity, it remains unclear how the Kremlin plans to address the financial and logistical challenges of expanding the army to 1.5 million active servicemen. For now, Russia’s strategy appears focused on strengthening its forces in the face of growing international pressure and continuing its operations in Ukraine.