Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to expand for the fourth time this year, raising the authorised strength to more than 2.4 million personnel. The move comes days after he insisted Russia is not preparing for military action against Europe.
The Russian armed forces are now permitted to include 2,441,630 personnel, incorporating 1,550,500 active-duty military staff.
Putin denies plans to strike Europe
Putin stated: "I want to emphasise once again that we are not preparing for any military action against Europe."
"We have no such plans, and, most importantly, there are no grounds for them."
"There are no real incentives whatsoever to escalate the situation with Europe."
He alleged that European nations were deliberately heightening tensions by advising citizens to brace for a Russian assault. He further claimed that the rights of Russian speakers were being breached in the Baltic states, though Moscow would react through humanitarian methods and international law rather than violence.
Election seen as war backing gauge
The military build-up follows a week after parliamentary elections that witnessed Putin's United Russia party strengthen its hold on the State Duma. The ballot marked the first of its nature since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and was presented as a gauge of backing for the conflict.
Russians were encouraged to use their ballots to show that "millions of people" supported the conflict, though this was criticised as any meaningful opposition had been eliminated prior to the voting. Ballots cast by Kyiv or Western governments were not acknowledged as valid, with the election conducted within Russia and in Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine.
The Institute for the Study of War stated that the Kremlin sought to utilise the election as proof of backing for Putin's war and it might assist Moscow in justifying "long-term societal sacrifices such as mobilization".
Zelensky warns of further mobilisation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that further mobilisation has already taken place as a consequence. He said: "In effect, the Russians have already begun mobilisation."
"They are increasing the number of people they recruit through various means."
"They also plan to increase the recruitment of foreigners, and it is important that the governments of the countries from which Russia recruits people into its ranks counter this."
"We will inform every relevant government."
The Ukrainian President cautioned that Putin might seek another 300,000 troops following the elections. Alongside gathering additional troops, it is reported that Russia will also allocate approximately £153 billion on defence in 2027, according to government documents seen by Reuters. This sum would represent the largest expenditure since conflict erupted in 2022.
