What's happened
On September 16, 2024, President Putin announced a significant increase in Russia's military personnel, raising the total to 2.38 million, including 1.5 million active troops. This marks the third expansion since the Ukraine invasion began in February 2022, as Russian forces continue their offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Business Insider UK, Putin's decree will increase military personnel to 2.38 million, with 1.5 million active soldiers, marking the third expansion since the Ukraine invasion began. Al Jazeera highlights that this move comes as Russian forces push forward in eastern Ukraine, raising concerns about the Kremlin's ability to sustain such an increase. The South China Morning Post notes that this expansion could lead to more significant military engagements, while experts like Dara Massicot from the Carnegie Endowment question the financial viability of this increase, suggesting that the Kremlin may need to consider unpopular recruitment strategies.
How we got here
Since the onset of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022, Russia has expanded its military multiple times. The latest decree, effective December 1, 2024, follows previous increases of 137,000 troops in August 2022 and 170,000 in December 2023, reflecting ongoing military needs amid sustained conflict.
Common question
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Why is Russia Increasing Its Military Personnel?
On September 16, 2024, President Putin announced a significant increase in Russia's military personnel, raising the total to 2.38 million, including 1.5 million active troops. This decision marks the third expansion since the Ukraine invasion began in February 2022. As tensions rise, many are left wondering what this means for global security and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in