The Russian Ministry of Defense said in an announcement on December 1 through social media that according to the order signed by Putin on November 29, 2023, the total strength of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation increased by 170,000 to 1.32 million.
The bulletin noted that the expansion of the Russian Armed Forces will be carried out in stages, and citizens interested in signing a contract for military service will be included in it. The bulletin stressed that the Russian army has no plans to significantly increase the number of conscripts, nor does it have plans to carry out mobilization.
According to the statement, the expansion of the strength of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is due to the "special military operation" and in response to the growing threat from NATO to the country.
The bulletin states that NATO is building joint armed forces near Russia's borders and deploying additional air defense systems and strikes**.
In addition, NATO's potential tactical nuclear forces are growing. The United States intends to replace 200 obsolete free-fall nuclear bombs deployed in Europe and Turkey with new high-precision nuclear bombs by the end of 2025.
* According to the Ministry of Defense, in the current situation, a further increase in the combat strength and size of the armed forces is an appropriate response to the "aggressive activities" of the NATO bloc.
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