In a move to bolster its military presence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has decreed an increase in the authorized strength of Russia’s armed forces by an additional 15,500 active-duty personnel. This adjustment raises the total number of active servicemen to 1,550,500, while the overall authorized strength of the armed forces will grow to 2,441,630 personnel.
This recent expansion marks the fourth such increase in Russia’s military capacity within the year 2026, following previous enlargements in March, June, and July. These cumulative enhancements have added tens of thousands of positions to the Russian military infrastructure. Despite these significant changes, the latest decree does not provide an explicit reason for the augmentation.
Amidst these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asserted that Russia is intensifying its recruitment efforts through various channels. However, Russian officials have dismissed claims suggesting that a new large-scale mobilization is underway.
It’s important to note that a partial mobilization was previously announced by Russia in September 2022. While the current order increases the authorized size of the armed forces, it stops short of declaring another mobilization effort.