Some 280,000 people have signed up to join the Russian army so far this year, former president Dmitry Medvedev has said.
Visiting Russia’s Far East today, Mr Medvedev, deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, said he was meeting local officials to work on efforts to beef up the armed forces.
“According to the Ministry of Defence, since 1 January, about
280,000 people have been accepted into the ranks of the armed
forces on a contract basis,” state news agency TASS quoted Mr Medvedev as saying.
For context: Last year, Vladimir Putin ordered a “partial mobilisation” of 300,000 reservists, prompting hundreds of thousands of others to flee Russia to avoid being sent to fight in Ukraine.
But Mr Putin has said there is no need for any further mobilisation.
Some Russian politicians have suggested Russia needs a professional army of seven million to ensure the country’s security – a move that would require a huge budget allowance.