Putin Orders New Troop Expansion of the Russian Military

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order this week, to expand the Russian military by nearly 170,000 troops, from the current level of 1,150,628 servicemen to 1,320,000 servicemen, reported TASS. This is not a new mobilization, however. “The increase in the number of troops in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is being implemented gradually by recruiting citizens willing to enlist for military service under contract. In this regard, there are no plans to significantly increase conscription into mandatory military service. The military call-up is not envisaged,” the Defense Ministry said.