Vladimir Putin Expands Russian Army to 2.4 Million Personnel
Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the Russian military's authorized strength to over 2.4 million personnel as Russia pursues a long-term war of attrition in Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on September 28, 2026, increasing the authorized strength of the Russian Armed Forces by 15,500 troops. This order raises the total personnel count to 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 active-duty military personnel. This marks the fourth such increase since March 2026, with total growth in that period estimated between 47,860 and 49,860 soldiers.
The expansion is part of a broader strategic shift by the Government of the Russian Federation from seeking a negotiated settlement to pursuing a long-term war of attrition. Following the collapse of the Istanbul Communiqué in April 2022, which would have seen Ukraine accept permanent neutrality, Moscow pivoted to exhausting Ukrainian manpower and Western supplies. To support this, Russia scaled its defense industry to produce up to seven million artillery, mortar, tank, and rocket rounds by 2025, an output that currently exceeds the combined capacity of NATO and the European Union.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia has begun additional mobilization and is expanding its use of North Korean troops, claiming over 8,000 North Korean personnel are currently in Russia. The Kremlin has denied that a new mobilization is underway, characterizing these claims as disinformation.
