Putin to increase size of Russian armed forces by 137,000 starting in 2023

According to Professor Michael Clarke, unless a "war" is declared by Russia in Ukraine then conscription is not permitted. Prof Clarke, former director-general of the Royal United Services Institute, said: "Then there is a fair amount of mutiny at the front lines. But that will not stop the offensive in itself. "Russia is now offering big amounts (three to four times the average monthly salary) for young men to take the military contract and serve for as little as six months, with virtually no training. "Desperate stuff, but Russia will keep feeding young men into the war. Many of them will die with bulging bank accounts back home."