Putin has increased the authorized strength of the Russian army for the third time this year
Russian dictator Putin signed a decree on yet another expansion of the authorized strength of the Russian Armed Forces, effective August 1, 2026. The total strength of the Russian Armed Forces will increase to 2,426,130 personnel, of whom 1,535,000 are active-duty military personnel.
The number of active-duty military personnel has increased by 25,000, while civilian personnel has increased by 2,000. The official reason for this latest expansion, as stated in the document, is the formation of new military construction units.
This is the third increase in the size of the Russian army since the beginning of 2026—previous adjustments were approved by decree in March and June.
Source: Official Legal Information Portal of the Russian Federation.
Source: Astra.
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