The Kremlin has announced a significant expansion of the Russian Armed Forces, a move that, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, is driven by the need to respond to rising threats near the country’s borders. Peskov made this statement during a briefing on Tuesday, September 17.
“This decision is prompted by the number of threats facing our country along the entire perimeter of our borders. We are encountering an extremely hostile environment on our western frontiers and instability on the eastern borders,” Peskov emphasized.
Earlier, it was revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree to increase the number of military personnel by 180,000. The total size of the Russian armed forces will now reach nearly 2.4 million, with 1.5 million being active service members.
This move reflects heightened tensions in Russia’s relations with neighboring countries and underscores the Kremlin’s growing concern over geopolitical instability.
