Russia will increase the number of troops to 1.3 million!

The Defense Ministry said the decision was taken in response to growing threats, including NATO expansion. Russia is believed to have suffered heavy casualties in its year-and-a-half-long occupation of Ukraine, although it has not published official data.

The Defense Ministry said the decision was taken in response to growing threats, including NATO expansion. Russia is believed to have suffered heavy casualties in its year-and-a-half-long occupation of Ukraine, although it has not published official data.

Russia is believed to have suffered heavy casualties in its year-and-a-half-long occupation of Ukraine, although it has not published official data. According to a written statement by the Russian Defense Ministry published on the Kremlin website, the increase in personnel will be phased in through recruitment, not through mobilization or changes in conscription. "The increase in personnel in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will be phased and will be carried out gradually, based on citizens who volunteer for military service under a contract," the statement said. NATO recently welcomed Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, to the alliance. Sweden has also applied to join. Ukraine will also join NATO "when conditions are met", the alliance said. Ukraine cannot join the alliance while it is at war with Russia.

Earlier, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky called for reinforcements and the strengthening of the defense line on the Russian front, as temperatures in the region dropped below zero.