Russia’s war chest: Terrifying photos of warships, armies, missiles and guns

Official figures put the number of active Russian military personnel at around 770,000, the fifth largest in the world. However, the UK’s Regular Forces number is just under 150,000.

Russia owns 629 dedicated fighter jets, including 154 MiG-31s, and another 428 multirole aircraft.

There are also 752 attack aircrafts, including 279 supersonic Su-24s.

Of its 1,360 helicopters, there are 559 Mil Mi-8/17s for transporting troops long distances and dropping them into combat.

Russia also poses a threat at sea with 19 destroyers, six frigate, 83 corvettes and 61 submarines, including one Typhoon-class, a nuclear-powered ballistic missile vessel.

Putin’s controversial “youth army”, with teenage recruits swimming in uniform while carrying Kalashnikov assault rifles, has swollen by 150,000 recruits in one year.

The force of mainly school children, seen by critics as a sign of increasing militarisation in Russia is now in the numbers almost 190,000 and rising.

When the young army was established, General-colonel Alexander Kolmakov vowed the “growing of a generation of citizens who treat history with care, who are kind and responsive, and ready to build a bright future for themselves and their country”.

The gallery shows Putin’s deadly collection of warships, armies and missiles ready in case of a global threat.