#RUSSIAN ARMY

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Putin orders Russian army to boost its numbers by 180,000

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the size of the regular Russian army to be increased by 180,000 troops to 1.5 million active servicemen in a move that would make it the second largest in the world after China's.

Russian Army’s recruitment billboard in Kursk, using a photo of a Ukrainian soldier. Photo: Astra Telegram channel

Russian army recruitment ad featuring Ukrainian soldier sparks row

Blunder sparks criticism from both Russian and Ukrainian commentators.

Photo: Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images.

Russia deploys additional forces on the border with Ukraine’s Kharkiv

Russian army is deploying additional forces to the border with Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, reported the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

PAP/UKRINFORM

Undermanned Russian forces gathering in Sumy to divert Ukraine

Russian forces are currently concentrating in the Sumy area, say Ukrainian sources, but while these groups are undermanned, they are expected to divert Ukrainian forces to the border area.