Reports reaching Africa to Daily News has it that Due to Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin of Russia has directed the Russian military to expand its manpower by 137,000, bringing the overall number of army personnel in the country to 1.15 million.
Vladimir Putin’s order, which becomes effective on January 1 did not define how the military would increase its strength—whether it would do so by increasing the number of conscripts, recruiting more volunteers, or doing both.
Following the directive which was announced on Thursday, there will be 1,150,628 more service members in the Russian military, bringing the total to 2,039,758. The military has 1,902,758 and 1,013,628 members, respectively, at the beginning of 2018.
According to the Kremlin, the “special military operation” in Ukraine exclusively includes volunteer contract soldiers.
According to Russian media and non-governmental organizations, the Russian government has made a conscious effort to increase the number of soldiers enrolled in military operations in Ukraine by recruiting more volunteers, hiring private military contractors, and even offering amnesty to some inmates in return for a tour of army service.
Additionally, regional officials have made an effort to reinforce the military by organizing volunteer battalions that will be assigned to Ukraine.
Every Russian man between the ages of 18 and 27 is required to serve in the military for one year, however many opt to bypass the recruitment due to illness or deferrals offered to college students. In Moscow and other major cities, the percentage of males who choose not to be drafted is statistically higher.
Twice a year, beginning on April 1 and October 1, the Russian military assembles prospective recruits. During the most recent spring draft earlier this year and 127,500 last autumns, Putin directed the recruitment of 134,500 conscripts.
In an effort to revive and enhance the preparedness of the force, the Kremlin has placed a major focus on raising the proportion of volunteer contract soldiers. The Russian military had more than 400,000 contract soldiers, including over 147,000 in the land forces, before the Kremlin deployed armies invading Ukraine on February 24.
Approximately 270,000 conscripts are thought to have served; the remaining is made up of officers and non-commissioned officers.
