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What Putin's latest decree expanding Russia's army actually means

Russian President Vladimir Putin has increased the potential size of the country's armed forces, a move analysts say is tied to long-term military reforms aimed at strengthening Moscow's capabilities against NATO. According to a decree signed on March 4, the maximum number of Russian service members could reach 2,391,770 personnel. Of these, 1,502,640 will serve as active-duty troops — 2,640 more than before. But while the overall numbers are large, experts say they don't necessarily translate

Exclusive: Saudi Arabia prepping 'huge deal' for Ukrainian weapons amid Iranian drone threat

A Saudi Arabian arms company has signed a deal to buy Ukrainian-made interceptor missiles, the Kyiv Independent has learned, with one source within Ukraine's defense industry saying that Riyadh and Kyiv are negotiating a separate "huge deal" for arms that could be finalized this week. Iran’s recent air attacks across neighboring Gulf States amid the U.S. and Israel-led war against Tehran have kicked off a scramble for military equipment to combat ballistic missiles and Shahed attack drones. Wh

About Ukraine

The Kyiv Independent delivers reliable news, context, and on-the-ground reporting from Ukraine. The largest country located entirely in Europe, Ukrainian territory covers 603,628 square kilometers (233,062 square miles), and is bordered by seven countries, namely Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Ukraine traces its history back to the medieval state of Kyivan Rus.

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