Desperate Putin Signs Major Order After Battlefield Humiliation

Key Points:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order increasing the Russian military by 15,500 troops, raising active-duty personnel to 1.55 million and total forces to over 2.44 million.
• The Kremlin has expanded military personnel multiple times since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, with 52,500 new positions created this year, mostly active-duty roles.
• Ukraine accuses Russia of preparing a new mass mobilization and increasing troop recruitment, while Putin denies these claims, labeling them as disinformation.
• The troop increase occurs amid significant Russian battlefield losses and slowed advances in Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces reportedly making breakthroughs and Russia relying more on foreign fighters, including thousands of North Koreans.
• Putin dismissed concerns about a war with Europe, accusing Baltic states of mistreating Russian speakers and reaffirming Russia’s commitment to protect them, while continuing to downplay the conflict as a "special military operation."