Russia Expands Military Forces Amid Rising Tensions and Resource Acquisition

The Russian Defense Ministry is likely to continue using volunteer recruitment methods, known as "crypto-mobilization," to implement President Putin's recent decree to increase the size of the Russian military by 170,000 personnel. The ministry's language suggests a long-term reliance on volunteers for force generation, rather than a significant increase in conscription or mobilization. The increase in military personnel is seen as a response to perceived threats associated with the conflict in Ukraine and NATO expansion.