Russia announced sweeping changes to its military on Tuesday in retaliation for U.S. aid to Ukraine, according to reports.
Russian state-run media TASS reported that the country will increase the size of its armed forces to 1.5 million over the next three years and reinforce the capabilities of its air, sea, and strategic missile forces as the war in Ukraine nears its 12th month.
Russia is starting to buckle under pressure https://t.co/cjg00CPaL3
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 17, 2023
Moscow claimed that the adjustments are required to counter growing opposition from western nations that have demonstrated their desire to harm Russia through economic sanctions and the transfer of arms to Ukraine.
“Only by strengthening the key structural components of the Armed Forces is it possible to guarantee the military security of the state and protect new entities and critical facilities of the Russian Federation,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
This comes as Russia continues to bombard Ukrainian cities with cruise and ballistic missiles despite the fact that its ground forces have endured terrible battles in the country and have mainly stagnated or suffered strategic losses recently.
Meanwhile, around 100 Ukrainian troops are set to train on the Patriot missile defense system at Oklahoma’s Fort Sill next week to protect their country from Russian missile attacks.
The Patriot batteries will supplement a range of air defense systems that the U.S. and NATO allies have promised to Ukraine as it contends with an evolving Russian missile and drone barrage against its infrastructure and civilian population in the conflict that has been going on for almost 11 months. Germany has pledged four IRIS-T air defense systems in recent months, and the United States has also committed eight mid-range NASAMS and Avenger air defense systems.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his so-called “military operation” against Ukraine in February, more than 77,000 Russian soldiers have been killed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said in November that Russian troops die by the hundreds every day in the fiercely contested Donetsk region in the east.
“The ground in front of the Ukrainian positions is literally littered with the corpses of the occupiers,” Zelensky said.
He and other top Ukrainian officials have repeatedly ruled out the prospect of engaging in negotiations with Russia so long as it’s led by Putin and said talks could only resume with his successor once the Kremlin relinquished all Ukrainian territory.
