Russia’s army top brass said on Wednesday it would seek to use reservists to defend civilian infrastructure such as oil refineries after a sharp rise in Ukrainian drone attacks deep into Russia over recent months.

Amid a confrontation with the West over Russia’s war in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has ordered the size of the regular army to swell to 1.5 active servicemen, making it the second largest army in the world after China’s.

Putin has said that at least 700,000 men are fighting in Ukraine and Russian lawmakers say there are about another 2 million men in the active reserve – those who have signed a reservist contract but do not usually actively serve.

Russian Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky, deputy head of the General Staff’s main organisational and mobilisation directora

See Full Page