Why has Putin added 15,000 new soldiers to Russia’s army?
Vladimir Putin signed a September 28 decree adding 15,500 posts to the Russian military, raising the authorized force to 2,441,630 personnel. This includes 1,550,500 active-duty positions. The expansion occurs as Russia enters a fifth winter of war in Ukraine and both sides face mounting casualties. While Moscow dismisses claims of a new mobilization as disinformation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that the troop increase coincides with preparations to deploy 10,000 additional North Korean soldiers to support Russian forces.
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- ✓ A September 28 decree added 15,500 posts to the Russian military.
- ✓ Russia's authorized force is now 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 active-duty personnel.
- ✓ This is the fourth military expansion ordered by Putin in 2026.
- ✓ President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims North Korea is preparing to deploy 10,000 more troops to Russia.
What changed
Putin issued a September 28 decree to increase the army's authorized strength by 15,500 positions.
Live updates
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Putin Expands Russian Army Personnel Ceiling for Fourth Time in 2026
Vladimir Putin signed a September 28 decree adding 15,500 posts to the Russian military, raising the authorized force to 2,441,630 personnel. This includes 1,550,500 active-duty positions. The expansion occurs as Russia enters a fifth winter of war in Ukraine and both sides face mounting casualties. While Moscow dismisses claims of a new mobilization as disinformation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that the troop increase coincides with preparations to deploy 10,000 additional North Korean soldiers to support Russian forces.
Why it matters
This is the fourth time Russia has increased its military staffing levels this year. The move follows a significant military budget increase and comes amid reports that Russian advances in Ukraine have stalled.
What is confirmed
- A September 28 decree added 15,500 posts to the Russian military.
- Russia's authorized force is now 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 active-duty personnel.
- This is the fourth military expansion ordered by Putin in 2026.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims North Korea is preparing to deploy 10,000 more troops to Russia.
Still unconfirmed
- 8,000 North Korean troops are already fighting in Ukraine.
What to watch next
- Confirmation of the arrival and deployment of 10,000 additional North Korean troops
- Official Russian government response to mobilization warnings
- Evidence of new recruitment drives to fill the 15,500 added posts
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (24)
- www.aljazeera.com — Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war - Al Jazeera
- Reuters — Ukraine's Zelenskiy says North Korea prepares to deploy another 10,000 troops to Russia
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — Zelenskyy Warns of New Russian Mobilization and 10,000 North Korean Troop Deployment
- www.theguardian.com — Ukraine war briefing: Putin orders army expansion as ...
- CNBC — Putin orders army expansion as Zelenskyy warns Russia preparing to deploy 10,000 North Korean troops
- The Daily Beast — Desperate Putin Signs Major Order After Battlefield Humiliation
- Al Jazeera — Why has Putin added 15,000 new soldiers to Russia’s army?
- www.aljazeera.com — Why has Putin added 15,000 new soldiers to Russia’s army? | Russia-Ukraine war News
- newsweek.com — Vladimir Putin’s kitchen sink strategy in Ukraine
- www.cnbc.com — Putin expands Russia army; Zelenskyy warns of more North ...
- The Kyiv Independent — Putin signs latest decree increasing Russian military staff in wake of monster military budget, looming mobilization
- www.sofx.com — Russia Raises Its Troop Ceiling a Fourth Time in 2026 as ...
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