Experts take a critical look at the president's plans: will Putin's "expensive" dream burst?
Created: 12/22/2022, 5:33 p.m
By: Tobias Utz
Russia's President Putin wants to upgrade the army "without financial restrictions": Experts are critical of the project.
Moscow - The Russian Defense Ministry recently presented the plans for the military.
Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that the army should be increased to 1.5 million soldiers.
The basis for this will be the increase in the age limit for conscripts: from 27 to 30 years.
So far, young men in particular have been called up in Russia after they have reached the age of 18, reports fr.de.
Experts at the Institute for the Study of War think tank are skeptical about Vladimir Putin's plans.
"The Kremlin will very likely not be able to do this in a short time," according to the researchers of the "ISW".
Building up divisions is “expensive” – and takes a relatively long time.
In particular, the costs are likely to become the main problem.
Putin wants to upgrade the Russian military "without financial restrictions".
The institute's experts recently stated that President Putin risks a "financial dilemma" for Russia because he is obsessively clinging to war aims in Ukraine.
Added to this is the state of the Russian economy.
It is currently in “a recession”.
The widening gap between rich and poor and numerous infrastructural projects that are not being implemented are increasing the pressure on Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the lectern.
© Kremlin Pool / Imago Images
However, from a long-term perspective, Russia's military plans are realistic, according to the experts.
If the government actually makes large sums available for upgrading the army, this could further increase the danger for NATO.
Specifically, it is about a total of 350,000 new armed forces.
So far, the army has comprised between 1.1 and 1.2 million soldiers.
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Putin himself also commented on the rearmament plans.
The 70-year-old called for a faster upgrade and modernization of the armed forces.
The Kremlin chief cited the use of drones as an example.
So far, this has been considered a weak point of the Russian armed forces.
Drones must be available at all levels of warfare, Putin said.
"Every soldier must have the opportunity to get information from drones." There are "no financial restrictions" on the further upgrading of the army, the Kremlin chief emphasized.
Regarding the Ukraine war, he reiterated: "I am sure that we will achieve all our goals step by step," said the Kremlin chief in Moscow.
(do with dpa/AFP)