Putin Expands Russian Military to 2.4 Million Amidst Continued Ukraine Conflict

President Vladimir Putin has signed an executive order expanding Russia's total military personnel to 2,441,630, increasing the number of active-duty troops to 1.55 million. This expansion, the second such increase ordered since August, adds 15,500 active servicemen.

The move comes as Western intelligence suggests Russia is losing approximately 6,000 more soldiers monthly than it can recruit. Ukrainian estimates place Russian troop losses at over 1.5 million since the 2022 conflict began, with as many as 450,000 deaths.

Russia's battlefield progress in Ukraine has reportedly slowed, partly attributed to widespread drone use that hinders large-scale troop movements. Ukraine has previously accused Russia of planning further mobilizations, claims Putin has labeled as disinformation.

Ukraine's intelligence chief, Lieutenant General Oleh Ivashchenko, claimed that troop losses, declining morale, and economic struggles could impact Russia's war-fighting capabilities by 2028. He stated that while Russia recruits around 1,000 to 1,200 individuals daily, casualty figures often exceed this, with approximately 60% of those killed in action.

The Kremlin's announcement follows a recent election where Putin's United Russia party secured a supermajority in the Duma, winning 355 out of 450 seats. The party has dominated Russian politics for 25 years, and this increased majority provides a strong mandate for legislative action.

Meanwhile, intense fighting continues along the frontlines. On Tuesday, Russian forces launched strikes in Kyiv, hitting the National Academy of Sciences, which Ukrainian authorities described as an act of "Russian terror" targeting "peaceful people who were simply at their workplaces." President Volodymyr Zelensky also reported a strike on a medical facility in the capital.

In Dnipro, Russian strikes on a business center resulted in four fatalities and at least 19 injuries. Authorities reported unspecified fatalities in a strike on a residential area in Kharkiv. Damage to civilian infrastructure, including an ice cream factory and residential buildings, was reported in multiple regions.

Strikes in Zaporizhzhia wounded 30 civilians, three of them seriously. A Russian jet-powered drone also struck a Ukrainian village near the Polish border, damaging a checkpoint. These newer drones are reportedly faster and harder to intercept than conventional models.

President Zelensky has reiterated his appeals to Western allies for increased military support, particularly for air defense systems like the US-made Patriot interceptors. Ukrainian officials have indicated that delays in aid could lead to the postponement of reconstruction work and other spending commitments.

With winter approaching, Ukrainian officials are considering measures to protect the population from potential attacks on energy infrastructure, similar to those experienced last year. While not advocating for mass evacuations, officials have suggested that vulnerable individuals might consider relocating to ease the burden on emergency services.