The Russian Defense Ministry will increase the size of the army to 1,320,000 soldiers

The increase in the number of armed forces of the Russian Federation is carried out at the expense of contract soldiers.

Photo: Dmitry Akhmadullin

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 29, 2023, the maximum strength of the Russian Armed Forces was increased by 170,000 servicemen to 1,320,000 servicemen.

“The increase in the number of servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is carried out in stages at the expense of citizens who express their desire to perform military service under contract. In this regard, there are no plans to significantly increase the recruitment of citizens for compulsory military service. Mobilization is not planned,” the Russian Ministry of Defense commented on the application of the Decree.

The military department also reported that the increase in the personnel level of the Armed Forces “is due to increasing threats to our country associated with the conduct of a special military operation and the ongoing expansion of NATO.”

The main threats were mentioned above: the strengthening of the alliance’s joint armed forces near Russia’s borders, the deployment of additional strike and air defense weapons and the growth of the potential of NATO’s tactical nuclear forces.

“The United States intends to replace 200 obsolete free-fall nuclear bombs located in Europe and Turkey with a new, high-precision version by the end of 2025. Under current conditions, a further increase in combat strength and the size of the Armed Forces is an adequate response to the aggressive activities of the NATO bloc,” the Russian Defense Ministry also stressed.