Putin Raises Russia’s Authorized Military Strength to 2.44 Million
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree increasing the authorized size of the country’s armed forces, bringing the total to 2,441,630 personnel.According to the official legal information portal, the decree was signed on Monday. It adds 15,500 active-duty troops, raising their number to 1,550,500. The remainder consists of civilian staff and support personnel.The…
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree increasing the authorized size of the country’s armed forces, bringing the total to 2,441,630 personnel.
According to the official legal information portal, the decree was signed on Monday. It adds 15,500 active-duty troops, raising their number to 1,550,500. The remainder consists of civilian staff and support personnel.
The order also instructs the government to provide the Defense Ministry with the necessary federal budget funds to sustain the approved force level.
In July, Putin had raised the total to 2,426,130, including 1,535,000 active-duty personnel.
Observers say the steady increases reflect the Kremlin’s long-term military planning amid the war in Ukraine. Russian officials maintain the expansion is necessary to protect national security and sovereignty, while Western countries view it as escalating tensions. In recent years, Russia has stepped up recruitment and promoted contract-based service.
