Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree to expand the size of the country’s armed forces by 15,500 personnel, increasing the total number of active-duty servicemen to 1,550,500. This decision also raises the overall authorized strength of the Russian military to 2,441,630 personnel.
This expansion marks the fourth adjustment to Russia’s military strength in 2026. Previous increases were enacted in March, June, and July, collectively adding tens of thousands of positions to the Russian military infrastructure. However, the latest decree does not specify the reasons behind this augmentation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that Russia is broadening its recruitment efforts through various channels. In contrast, Russian officials have dismissed claims that a new large-scale mobilization is on the horizon. It is important to note that the recent decree does not declare any new mobilization but merely authorizes an increase in the size of the armed forces.
In September 2022, Russia announced a partial mobilization, which was a significant development in its military strategy. The latest order, while increasing the authorized capacity of the armed forces, stops short of initiating fresh mobilization efforts.
