2024-09-19T13:46:00+03:00 War in Ukraine 2024-09-23T04:00:01+03:00

Ukrainian news

Putin wants to increase size of army to 1.5 million people. British intelligence assesses capabilities of rus

Putin wants to increase size of army to 1.5 million people. British intelligence assesses capabilities of russia

The implementation of russian dictator vladimir putin's plan to increase the russian army by another 180,000 soldiers will be complicated by heavy losses in the war in Ukraine and problems with recruitment.

This is reported by the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.

Thus, on September 16, 2024, russian leader vladimir putin signed a decree to increase the size of the russian army by 180,000 servicemen to 1.5 million people, which will take effect in December 2024.

At the same time, this is already the third decree signed by putin to increase the size of the russian army since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

It is noted that russia's desire to expand its military is well-established. In particular, in December 2022, the then Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu called to increase the number of russian troops to 1.5 million people.

British intelligence said russia is likely to increase the number and size of units in its ground forces to accommodate most of the extra 180,000 troops.

"Despite the stated intent to expand its force, it is likely that this ambition will be hampered by continued heavy losses sustained in the conflict against Ukraine and recruitment challenges,” the message says.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, during the first week of autumn, the Defense Forces of Ukraine liquidated almost 9,000 soldiers of the russian occupation army. More than a thousand units of weapons and equipment were also destroyed.