🇷🇺 Vladimir Putin
Putin targets 1.55m active troops as Europe watches nervously - London Business News
What happened
Vladimir Putin has ordered an expansion of Russia's armed forces, increasing the authorised strength to 2,441,630 personnel, with 1,550,500 active-duty military personnel. This is the fourth expansion this year, following a parliamentary election in which Putin's party strengthened its control of the State Duma. The expansion is accompanied by sustained increases in defence spending, with Moscow allocating £153bn to defence in 2027, the largest annual allocation since the full-scale invasion of
Why it matters
The expansion and increased defence spending present a complex picture for European governments, who are also increasing defence spending and strengthening military readiness in response to the war in Ukraine and concerns about Russia's longer-term intentions. The situation highlights the strategic dilemma confronting Europe, as Moscow continues to expand its military resources while denying plans for a wider conflict.
Key facts
- Putin has ordered four military expansions this year
- Russia's armed forces have 1.55 million active-duty personnel
- Defence spending is expected to reach £153bn in 2027
- The military expansion is accompanied by a parliamentary election in which Putin's party strengthened its control of the State Duma
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