Putin expands Russia army; Zelenskyy warns of more North Korean troops
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a significant increase in the size of the Russian military, bringing active personnel to over 1.5 million. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported the presence of North Korean troops in Russia and alleged that Russia is providing technical support for North Korean drone production.
Why it matters
The expansion of Russian forces and the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea signal a major escalation in the ongoing conflict, potentially altering the regional security landscape.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a further increase in the size of the country's army, boosting the number of active service members more than four-and-a-half years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The presidential decree, which was published Monday on Russia's official legal information database, will put the size of Russia's armed forces at 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 active servicemen.
The move, which raises the number of active troops by 15,500, is the fourth order of its kind this year and comes as both countries sustained heavy losses. The Kremlin did not give a reason for the decision.
Analysts widely expected Russia to implement some form of mobilization after the State Duma election earlier this month, a prospect that is unpopular within Russia.
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