Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered a further increase in army troops to 1.5m as the Ukraine war rages on.
He decreed the army should increase by 180,000 troops to 1.5 million soldiers, the third time he has expanded its ranks invading Ukraine in February 2022.
In the decree published on the Kremlin's website, Putin ordered the overall size of the armed forces to be increased to 2.38 million people, of which he said 1.5m should be active servicemen.
The president had previously ordered two official increases in the number of combat troops by 137,000 and 170,000 respectively.
Russia attempted to mobilise 300,000 soldiers in September and October 2022 with tens of thousands of draft-age men to fleeing the country to places like Cyprus.
The Kremlin has said that no new draft is on the horizon and that extra soldiers now needed would be signing up to fight in Ukraine voluntarily and on good pay.
Meanwhile the West fears Russia has traded nuclear secrets with Iran in exchange for ballistic missiles to attack Ukraine, according to reports.
The development was discussed by Joe Biden and Sir Keir Starmer at the White House on Friday.
Intelligence sources suggest Iran's nuclear programme may be nearing completion with Russian assistance, The Sun reported.
US and UK intelligence revealed Putin has received Fath-360 ballistic missiles from Iran's Supreme Leader.
Nato countries have still not agreed to Ukraine being allowed to use long range missiles from the alliance to strike in Russia.
