THE Russia announced that it would increase its contingent of soldiers to 1.5 million and set up army bases on the border Finland and increase its presence in the regions of Ukraine fastened. “Ensuring the military security of the state and protecting new federations is only possible if we strengthen the basic structures of the armed forces,” said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
According to the official TASS agency, the Russian Armed Forces have 2 million members, of which 1,150,628 are military personnel. On January 1, a presidential decree Wladimir Putin Increase in the number of military personnel by 137,000 people.
The Secretary of Defense also stated that two new military districts will be created by Moscow and Leningrad, as well as military bases in the territories of the “new Entities” of Russia, that is, in the Ukrainian regions of Russia Kherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk and luhanskattached in September by the Kremlin.
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Russia announces increase in army; In a message at the end of the year, Putin visited Russian military bases Photo: EFE/EPA/MIKHAEL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
Another decision is the creation of a military base on the border with Finland with three motorized rifle divisions as part of the ground forces and two air assault divisions of the Air Force. The decision is a response to the expansion of NATO with the accession process of Finland and Sweden.
The West has issued statements supporting the Ukrainian government and angering Moscow. THE United Kingdom said on Tuesday the 17th that he would support Ukraine until it “emerges victorious” from the Russian invasion. That was the message from British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly when he justified the use of tanks by Ukrainian troops, a decision that angered Russia.
“The message we are sending to Putin is that we are committed to supporting Ukrainians until they are victorious,” Cleverly said during a visit to Washington.
On Saturday, Great Britain announced the delivery of Challenger 2 armored fighting vehicles to Kyiv. It will be the first delivery of Western heavy tanks to Ukraine.
A veteran politician, but discreet on the matter Germany, will be appointed as the new Minister of Defense and will have as a first challenge the decision to send tanks to Ukraine. Germany is under intense pressure to increase its involvement with the Ukrainian military.
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Boris PistoriusThe 62yearold, who has been Interior Minister for Lower Saxony in the north for ten years, faces his first major task on Friday when western allies meet at the US military base. United States of America in Ramstein, southwest Germany, to discuss the delivery of more weapons and equipment to Kyiv.
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Leopard tank is presented at a trade fair in Germany Photo: AP Photo/Michael Sohn
Berlin has been extremely reluctant to authorize the use of Leopard heavy tanks in Ukraine, amid fears the decision could lead to an escalation of the war. Other countries that have Germanbuilt tanks need permission from Berlin to ship them to another country.
“I know how important this task is in these times,” Pistorius told reporters after the federal government’s announcement. “The tasks that lie ahead of the troops are enormous… I want to make the Bundeswehr strong for the future.”
The new minister, who trained as a lawyer, belongs to the same party as the chancellor, who vigorously defended his nomination. “I am very pleased to have an outstanding politician in our country in Boris Pistorius as Defense Minister,” said the Chancellor Olaf Scholz in written communication. “Pistorius is an extremely experienced politician, has been involved in security policy for years and, with his competence, assertiveness and big heart, is exactly the right person to lead the Bundeswehr through this change in times,” Scholz continued.
As interior minister of his northern German state, Pistorius, who is little known nationwide, specializes in questions of cyber security, homeland security and migration policy. From 2006 to 2013 he was also mayor of Osnabrück. / AP, EFE and NYT
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