Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia's armed forces to grow to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 active servicemen, the fourth such increase this year. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia has begun a fresh mobilization push and is preparing to send another 10,000 North Korean troops to the front.
Putin signs fourth troop increase of the year
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a further increase in the size of the country's army, more than four-and-a-half years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The presidential decree, published Monday on Russia's official legal information database, sets the size of the armed forces at 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 active servicemen.
The move raises the number of active troops by 15,500 and is the fourth order of its kind this year. The Kremlin gave no reason for the decision, but both countries have sustained heavy losses as the war continues into another winter.
Election result preceded the decree
Analysts had widely anticipated some form of mobilization after the State Duma election earlier this month. Russia's ruling party, United Russia, won a record number of seats in the vote, election officials said on September 25, a result that was all but predetermined in the country's tightly controlled political system.
Zelenskyy points to new North Korean deployment
Zelenskyy said Monday that Russia has effectively started a fresh wave of military mobilization, estimating more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently on Russian territory. He added that preparations are underway to deploy another 10,000 troops, who are being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia.
According to Zelenskyy: "they are being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia." He said Russia is paying North Korea partly in technology, with Shahed-type attack drone production now established there with Russian technical support.
A wave of Russian attacks on Kyiv on Monday killed two people and injured 26, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Diplomacy stalled as US attention shifts
Diplomatic talks toward a peaceful solution have stalled in recent months as the United States has shifted focus to its war against Iran. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly last week, Zelenskyy warned that the coming winter will be painful for Russia if a truce cannot be agreed to in the coming weeks, while acknowledging that Ukraine's government also fears another difficult winter.
Source: CNBC
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