Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the country’s military to increase its number of troops by 170,000, as Moscow’s war in Ukraine enters its 22nd month. The increase would take the overall number of Russian military personnel to more than 2.2 million, including 1.32 million troops, according to the decree published by the Kremlin Friday. Russia’s defense ministry said the move was in response to “growing threats to our country” including the war in Ukraine and “the continuing expansion of NATO.” It said the increase would be implemented in stages through a recruitment drive, and that there were no plans for conscription or a new wave of mobilization. Putin’s decree marked the second such expansion of the army since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In August 2022, Putin ordered an increase of 137,000 troops by January 1, 2023, which put the military’s staffing at just over 2 million personnel, including 1.15 million troops.—CNN
