Ukraine–Russia

Putin signs fourth 2026 decree raising Russia's authorized military strength to 2,441,630

DEVELOPMENT
Location
Russia
Actors
Russia
Importance
Standard

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree authorising 15,500 additional positions in Russia's armed forces, raising the authorised total to 2,441,630 including 1,550,500 service members, and took effect on the day it was signed. It is the fourth increase to the military's authorised strength in seven months, following increases in March, June and July; together the four added 52,500 positions, including 50,500 for service members. During the first four years of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin raised the authorised strength only three times.

Verification: Confirmed

Evidence: Putin orders fourth expansion of Russia's armed forces this year, Why has Putin added 15,000 new soldiers to Russia's army?

Reported from the presidential decree and corroborated by independent newsrooms, with the figures given consistently. The decree text itself was not read directly in this run.