Russia intends to increase the number of the army to 1.5 million people: what are the Kremlin's plans
Such an increase is related to Finland's accession to NATO and "proportional to the external threats" of the Russian Federation, said the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu during a speech at an extended meeting of the Ministry of Defense. Shoigu reported that this year of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation completed and equipped two all -military armies, a mixed aviation corps of 50 units and military units, including four divisions, 18 brigades, 28 regiments.
"All plans for manning the army and the Navy have been fully executed this year. The number has been brought to one million 150 thousand servicemen," the minister reported. According to him, against the background of Finland's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance and the possible entry into the Sweden Military Bloc of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation continue to form the Leningrad and Moscow military districts.
At the same time, since December 1, the Defense Office began execution of President Vladimir Putin's decree to increase the forces of up to 1 million 320 thousand people. Shogu also stated that the age of conscription will be increased from 18 to 21, and the marginal - from 27 to 30 years, with this rule will be introduced into the Russian army in stages.