Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree increasing the authorised strength of the country’s armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel.
The decree, signed on Monday, raises the number of active-duty military personnel to 1,550,500, an increase of 15,500 from the previous authorised level.
The order also directs the Russian government to provide the Defence Ministry with the additional funding required to maintain the expanded military strength.
The latest increase comes amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and follows several previous adjustments to the size of the Russian armed forces this year. The authorised strength had stood at 2,426,130 personnel, including 1,535,000 active-duty servicemen.
The Kremlin has not indicated that the latest decree amounts to a new mobilisation. Russian officials have previously pointed to recruitment through military contracts as a means of maintaining troop levels.
The increase is the latest expansion of Russia’s authorised military strength since the war in Ukraine began, as Moscow continues its military operations and the conflict enters another year.
