Russia expands its army to record numbers: Putin signs new decree
Illustrative photo: Russian army grows larger (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the size of the Russian army to more than 2.3 million personnel, the decree has been published on the Russian government’s official website.
What’s in the document
According to the decree dated March 4, 2026 (No. 139), the authorized strength of the Russian Armed Forces is now 2,391,770 personnel, of which 1,502,640 are active-duty servicemen.
The previous decree from September 16, 2024, has been revoked. Under that decree, the authorized strength of the Russian Armed Forces was:
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Total personnel: 2,389,130
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Active-duty servicemen: 1,500,000
The increase amounts to +2,640 active-duty personnel and +2,640 in total personnel.
Photo: Putin’s decree (screenshot from Russian government sources)
How many Russian troops are fighting in Ukraine
According to Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, more than 700,000 Russian soldiers are currently engaged against Ukrainian forces. Putin has cited similar figures.
Despite this, the actual size of the force is not increasing: losses exceed reinforcements. In 2025, Russia mobilized about 406,000 personnel but lost approximately 419,000.
The Kremlin plans to recruit another 409,000 contract soldiers in 2026, aiming to increase its force in Ukraine to 800,000, Syrskyi warns.
