Moscow prepared to continue war in Ukraine for 2 or 3 more years – Bild

Russia could increase the number of active soldiers to up to 3 mln if the course of the war in Ukraine makes it necessary

Germany’s Bild reported the information, referring to the estimates by the federal government's experts.

According to the experts, the Kremlin's war on Ukraine could last for a very long time, because Russia still has considerable reserves, at least in terms of the number of soldiers.

In order to compensate for the high losses of the Russian army in Ukraine, Putin issued a decree for partial mobilization last autumn: 300,000 reservists were to be drafted.

However, this hasty mobilization was seen more as an urgent measure to stop the advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Last fall Ukraine had gained great ground in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions and inflicted heavy losses on the invading Russian army.

In order to prevent the front from collapsing in the south and east, the army leadership needed numerous reserve units. In fact, the invading forces managed to stabilize the front and establish extensive defensive positions.

Putin militarizes Russian society

However, the Kremlin's new military laws go much further.

The Russian army can now draw on the more than two million reservists much more comprehensively, since the age limit has been raised: in future, enlisted ranks can be drafted again up to the age of 40, officers can even be drafted up to the age of 70.

According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the provisional goal is to increase the number of active soldiers by another 400,000 to one and a half million.

However, while this regulation is aimed at reservists, the increase in the compulsory military age to 30 is noteworthy. Because this measure indicates a further militarization of society.

​​Moscow is prepared to continue the war for two or three more years

According to estimates by the federal government's experts, Russia could increase the number of active soldiers to up to three million if the course of the war in Ukraine makes it necessary.

The Russian army would then have more active soldiers than China's Armed Forces. Although the level of training of many of these soldiers is not likely to be very high. The Russian Armed forces also have massive problems with their equipment.

Nevertheless, the experts warn against underestimating such a militarization of Russian society.

Even if it is rather unlikely that the Russian troops in Ukraine will go on the offensive again at some point, this scenario should not be completely ruled out.

In this case, experts warn, hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers with many years of war experience could end up on NATO's eastern flank.