German media outlets Süddeutsche Zeitung, WDR, and NDR also cite the report, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin appears intent on testing NATO’s Article 5 guarantees. The alliance’s mutual defence clause obliges member states to come to one another’s aid if attacked. The assessment suggests Putin may seek to challenge how seriously that commitment would be honoured.

  • cyrano@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    4 days ago

    What is the size of the army in men/woman for Russia? Given the last 3 years, their demographic should be impacted overall, isn’t it?

    • Brave Little Hitachi Wand@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      People who follow this subject have been talking about it as a crisis before the invasion even began. Now it’s being described as “demographic collapse”. They have remarkably low birth rates, an ageing population, xenophobia issues, and few friendly nations from which to borrow workers. I saw one headline that they’ve begun trying to bribe young ladies to have children. I believe I’ve seen Putin on record saying he sees demographics as one of his biggest issues, but his policies belie a more cynical stance. It is likely that Russia will continue to decline throughout the century, and in geopolitical terms they are positioned to eventually become a client state of some sort, likelier than not beholden to China.

      • wtckt@lemm.ee
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        3 days ago

        Maybe they’ll find a way to rebound. Banning contraception, banning abortions getting rid of women rights plus no other way to survive in old age apart from having many children. Seems like the US is going that way.

        • Ofiuco@lemmy.cafe
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          3 days ago

          I feel that would lead to women escaping the country, suicides or to kill the babies if they are born a girl…

    • torrentialgrain@lemm.ee
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      4 days ago

      It is definitely impacted but you also need to consider how indoctrinated and thoroughly militarized the younger generations are at this point. Russia might not have good birth rates, but their children are forced to learn marching in formation early on (I think it was at kindergarten level) and practice with wooden rifle mockups.