Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the strength of the country’s armed forces by 15,500 personnel, bringing the total number of active-duty servicemen to 1,550,500. This adjustment raises the overall authorized military strength to 2,441,630 personnel. The decision marks the fourth expansion of military numbers in 2026, following previous increases in March, June, and July, which cumulatively added tens of thousands of positions.
The decree does not specify a reason for the latest augmentation. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that Russia is stepping up recruitment efforts through various channels. In contrast, Russian officials have denied any plans for a new large-scale mobilization. The previous significant mobilization effort occurred in September 2022, when Russia announced a partial mobilization.
While the new order increases the authorized size of the armed forces, it does not indicate an immediate move to deploy additional troops or initiate a new mobilization effort. The increase is part of a broader strategy to bolster military capabilities amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.