Putin signs fourth decree this year to expand Russia's armed forces

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new decree on Monday expanding the numerical size of the country's armed forces. According to the document, the military will be increased by 15,500 additional troops.

This is not the first such move this year — it marks the fourth time in 2026 that Putin has signed an order increasing the size of Russia's armed forces. The frequency of these decrees suggests that Russia's leadership is continuing to gradually expand its military personnel numbers.

No detailed public explanation has been given on exactly how the new troop target will be met — whether through conscription, contract soldiers, or other means. The decree takes effect from the moment it was signed.

The gradual growth of Russia's armed forces has continued for several consecutive years, and the repeated decrees on additional troop numbers point to Moscow's long-term plans to maintain and expand its military capacity.