Russia: In light of Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday allowed the Russian military to add 137,000 more troops to its 1.15 million-strong force.
Putin's order, which took effect on January 1, did not specify how the military would increase its numbers, including whether more troops would be drafted, more soldiers would volunteer, or a combination of both.
The presidential decree will add 1,150,628 new service members, bringing the total number of Russian military personnel to 2,039,758. At the beginning of 2018, the army had 1,902,758 and 1,013,628 members respectively.
The Kremlin has denied rumors that it was considering a wider mobilization and said only volunteer contract soldiers are involved in what it refers to as a "special military operation" in Ukraine.
According to Russian media and non-governmental organisations, Russian authorities have tried to increase the number of soldiers participating in military operations in Ukraine, by recruiting more volunteers, using private military contractors, and even increasing the number of soldiers taking part in military operations in Ukraine. In exchange for that tour, some prisoners were offered amnesty. of Duty.
Additionally, regional authorities have attempted to strengthen the force by organizing volunteer battalions that would be sent to Ukraine.
All Russian men between the ages of 18 and 27 are required to serve in the military for one year, but many are exempt from the draft due to poor health or delays given to college students. In Moscow and other major cities, a disproportionately high percentage of men prefer to skip the draft.
Twice a year, starting on 1 April and 1 October, the Russian military rounds up potential recruits. In the most recent spring draft earlier this year and 127,500 last autumn, Putin ordered the drafting of 134,500 contracts.
In an effort to modernize and increase the army's preparedness, the Kremlin has emphasized increasing the proportion of volunteer contract soldiers.
Before the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine on 24 February, the Russian army had more than 400,000 contract troops, including about 147,000. The remainder is made up of officers and non-commissioned officers.
Military experts have noted that if the conflict in Ukraine continues, those numbers may be clearly insufficient to support operations in Ukraine, which have stated the goal of creating a 1 million-strong army.
Colonel Viktor Murakhovsky, a retired Russian general, said Putin's decision on Thursday was a reflection of the need to fill the ranks in light of the military conflict in Ukraine.
In comments published by online news source RBC, he predicted that the Kremlin would try to continue to rely on volunteers and that they would increase most of what the Kremlin had ordered.
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