INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday boosting troop numbers by 15%, in a move the army said was due to "threats"
associated with the Ukraine offensive.The move comes as both Ukraine and Russia seek to gain ground and replenish their ranks in the
conflict, whose front lines have barely moved in recent months."The increase in the full-time strength of the army is due to growing threats
to our country linked with the special military operation and the continuing expansion of NATO," the army said.It said the number of serving
army soldiers would increase by some 170,000 people, and that this was an "adequate" response to the "aggressive activity of the NATO
men out of Russia last year.Instead, the army has in recent months turned to recruitment drives, promising attractive financial rewards,
especially in far-flung regions.But Kremlin critics say this amounts to a "hidden" mobilization, and that men have continued to be
sporadically drafted into the army.
