This expansion is being undertaken by the Russian Army as the conflict in Ukraine continues. It’s estimated that the army will increase its strength to approximately 150.000 soldiers. The Russian army is expanding its forces, and reports indicate that North Korean soldiers are involved. This indicates preparations for an extended engagement with Ukraine, as well as Kyiv’s potential regional allies.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, warned in an interview that Russia was planning to bolster its military and warned about future possible aggressions beyond Ukraine’s boundaries, which could include incursions by Poland or Lithuania as a result of military training conducted in Belarus.
Russia’s Expansion of Military Forces: Implications
Russian troops have been experiencing a personnel shortage for some time. The recruitment drive, coinciding with ongoing military cooperation with Belarus – demonstrated by the establishment of joint training centers for Russian soldiers – points to an increasingly close strategic alliance between Moscow and Minsk. The joint military drills raise concerns about future coordinated operations.
Zelensky’s assessment of Russian military strength
Zelensky, President of the Russian Federation, revealed that intelligence indicated Russia intended to increase its military by 12-15 divisions in 2025. It depends on intensive training, mobilization, and recruiting additional North Korean personnel. According to him, such a large expansion could result in an additional 150,000 troops.
Zelensky highlighted the disparity between the two armies, saying that the Russian army was currently double the size of Ukraine. Zelensky also noted that Ukraine has 110 brigades, which are holding Russia back from having 220. The combined European forces including American soldiers stationed throughout Europe could be outnumbered by three times the strength of a strengthened Russian force. This highlights the importance of international support to Ukraine.
Zelensky also noted that 2022 Russian invaders were launched from Belarus. Moscow might then try to strike neighboring countries following the training. He said, “They’ll be able start [a full-scale invasion] If you are in Poland or Lithuania, then this is for you. You can find it in Lithuania. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants peace. He wants to see the end of war. Why then does a very poor country, with a huge economy problem, increase and train its troops by 150,000. This is definitely not a dialogue.”
Zelensky called for a minimum of 200,000 European peacekeepers to be deployed in the event that any agreement on a ceasefire is reached. This would effectively prevent future Russian aggression.
South Korean military intelligence reports indicate that North Korea has been actively preparing for the deployment of additional equipment and troops to support Russia in its ongoing military operations. Over 1,000 North Koreans have been reported to be dead from fighting with Russian forces in Ukraine. International sanctions have been complicated by the involvement of North Korean troops. Human rights violations in their treatment are also commonplace.
Dmitry Abzalov (a Russian propagandist and political analyst) recently said, echoing this sentiment, that Moscow “ran out” North Korean soldiers, and that he anticipated another contingent coming within the month. The DPRK suffered significant battlefield losses, he acknowledged.
Geopolitical Perspectives
In a recent post to X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky stated that: “Intelligence report confirms that Russia is creating new divisions and developing military production facilities. The cooperation between North Korea and Russia will grow. Moscow also spreads modern weapons technologies, including drone technologies.
“This means one simple thing—Putin is preparing not for negotiations, not for peace, but for the continuation of the war—and not only against Ukraine. Now, they are increasing their army to more than 100 thousand soldiers. “All partners need to be made aware and understand this.”
Petr Markov is a Ukrainian Diplomat who posted on X. “Military situation & Russia’s next move – Russia plans to expand its army by 150,000 – 250,000 in 2025. Ukraine warns that if it falls, Europe is next…”.
Morgan Luttrell’s comments on X were made by a Republican representative of Texas’ 8th Congressional District. China is expanding rapidly its nuclear arsenal. Russia’s Army now is larger than it was before the Ukraine invasion. North Korea has increased its nuclear arsenal. Iran’s agents attack American forces. “We need to invest in our defence to stay ahead of the threats that we face”.
Look Ahead: Uncertainties and Implications
The outcome of this conflict depends on how long Ukraine can continue to receive support from Europe and the United States. Uncertainty remains about the ability of Ukrainian forces in order to successfully counteract an anticipated increase in Russian force strength. Concerns are growing about the potential for the conflict to escalate into a regional war with strategic implications on European security.