Putin Orders Russian Army to Increase Troop Size to 1.55M

Sep. 29, 2026 Vladimir Putin looks to new horizons. kremlin.ru President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Monday that raises the strength of the Russian military by 15,500 personnel, bringing the total number of active-duty servicemen to 1.55 million. Putin has raised the number of military personnel several times since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Monday’s order does not explain the reason for the latest increase. The Russian military’s total strength now stands at 2,441,630 personnel. This year, the military has created 52,500 new positions, according to the exiled news outlet Meduza, the vast majority of which are active-duty military slots rather than civilian support staff. Ukraine has accused Russia of preparing for a new mass mobilization of troops after holding parliamentary elections last week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russia has “in effect” begun the process of surging troop recruitment “through various means,” though he did not provide details. Putin, who last ordered a “partial” mobilization of reservists in September 2022, has dismissed the mobilization claims as “disinformation.” Some military experts have argued that the Kremlin is unlikely to issue a new draft order like in 2022 due to the fact that “partial” mobilization remains in effect. Others have cautioned that another mass call-up of service-age men would encounter logistical hurdles and fail to address challenges on the front line. Read more about: Russian military Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Satellite Images Show Russian Military Buildup Near Finland – NYT The buildup follows Russia’s announcement that it would grow its military and create new units in response to Finland and Sweden joining NATO. 2 Min read Russia Detains Man Suspected of Killing General – FSB A senior Russian general was killed in a car bombing near Moscow, with Russia claiming it captured a Ukrainian agent responsible for the attack. 1 Min read Ukraine Says It Received 84K Missing Person Requests From Families of Russian Soldiers The “I Want to Find” hotline, launched in January 2024, claimed that the true number of missing Russian troops is likely two to three times higher... 2 Min read Russian Court May Release Jailed Army General Popov to Fight in Ukraine – TASS Popov, who was arrested on fraud charges, reportedly asked Putin to allow him to “continue smashing the enemy” in Ukraine in a letter last month. 2 Min read