Moscow has meanwhile accused Berlin of playing a key role in fueling “hysterical Russophobia” in Europe The German armed forces have reported a 28% increase in new recruits from January to late July compared to the same period last year. Moscow has repeatedly criticized NATO for moving towards what it calls “reckless militarization.”   According to the German Defense Ministry, more than 13,700 people joined the Bundeswehr – the army, air force, navy, and other branches – since the start of 2025.