Overview

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to expand the Russian army by 180,000 troops, bringing the total to 1.5 million active servicemen.
• This expansion will make Russia's military the second largest in the world, trailing only China.
• The decree, which will take effect on December 1, 2024, is the third such increase since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
• Kremlin officials cite growing threats from NATO and instability along Russia's borders as the primary reasons for the expansion.
• Experts question whether Russia can afford the financial burden of sustaining such a large military force amid ongoing economic challenges.