Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive decree ordering an increase of 15,500 active-duty personnel in the Russian Armed Forces, bringing the total military personnel to 2,441,630, according to data published by The Moscow Times on September 28. The new directive raises active-duty military personnel to 1,550,500, up from the previous structure of 2,426,130 total positions with 1,535,000 active troops.
Decline in Previous Force Numbers and Sustained Expansion
This adjustment represents the fourth troop expansion ordered by Moscow in what goes of the year and the seventh since the launch of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The continuous increase reflects an ongoing effort by the Kremlin to replace battlefield casualties and maintain troop volume on the front lines. The latest decree follows a late-July order that added 25,000 active personnel for military construction units. Earlier in the year, a March directive set active force levels at 1,502,640, followed by a June 12 presidential order raising active personnel to 1,510,000 within a total framework of 2,399,130 positions.
Defense Budget Projections for 2027
The expansion of the Russian military runs parallel to significant financial commitments outlined in federal planning. Draft budget projections for 2027 indicate that defense allocations could reach 17,1 billones de rublos, equivalent to roughly 223.600 millones de dólares. This expenditure would account for 35 percent of Russia’s total federal budget, illustrating the economic weight dedicated to sustaining current military operations.
Mobilization Pressures and Foreign Troop Deployment
Institutional strain has grown around national recruitment networks as regional enlistment offices face mounting pressure to meet force quotas amid high attrition rates. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a nightly address that Moscow has initiated additional mobilization measures, aligning with Ukrainian intelligence assessments that project the recruitment of 300,000 individuals over the course of the year. Zelenskyy also reported that approximately 8,000 North Korean soldiers are currently positioned in Russian territory, with another 10,000 troops undergoing deployment phases. In exchange for this ground support and technical assistance from Moscow, North Korea has reportedly initiated domestic manufacturing of Shahed attack drones.
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