Putin's decree orders Russian army boost to 1.5 million soldiers
Vladimir Putin has already issued a third decree related to increasing the number of army personnel since the start of the war in Ukraine. Effective 1 December, the number of active soldiers will rise to 1.5 million, and the total number in the armed forces will be 2,389,000.
According to the portal "Moscow Times," the number of active soldiers is set to increase by 180,000. It's worth noting that a year earlier, in December 2022, the army size grew by 170,000, and even earlier, in 2021, by 137,000.
Ministry of Defence: no additional mobilisation
The Russian Ministry of Defence announced that it does not plan any additional conscription or mobilisation. The army will be increased through volunteers who sign up for contract service.
The Reuters agency reminds us that in the autumn of 2022, Russia mobilised over 300,000 soldiers, which led to a massive exodus of conscription-age men from the country.
Losses since the beginning of the conflict
According to Western intelligence reports, since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia may have lost up to 450,000 killed and wounded. The Russian editorial office of the BBC, in cooperation with Mediazone, confirmed the deaths of at least 68,000 people. Most of the casualties were volunteers who signed contracts after the invasion began.
