Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday, 28 September 2026, raising the authorised number of military personnel in the Russian armed forces to 1,550,500, within a total authorised strength of 2,441,630, including military and civilian personnel. The move increases the number of military personnel by 15,500 from the previous level of 1,535,000.
Government required to fund increase in armed forces strength
The total authorised strength of the armed forces before the new decree was 2,426,130 personnel. The presidential decree instructed the Russian government to provide the Defence Ministry with the necessary funding from the federal budget, enabling the new increase in the armed forces’ strength.
The decision entered into force on 28 September, the day it was signed. The new decision repealed the previous decree issued on 27 July 2026, which set the authorised figures before the latest increase. The amendments approved under that decree were linked to the creation of military construction units within the Russian armed forces.
The July decree also set the staffing ceiling for the Defence Ministry’s central apparatus at 13,400 positions, excluding personnel responsible for guarding and maintaining buildings, including 4,930 federal civilian employees. The September increase is the fourth adjustment to the authorised strength of the Russian armed forces in seven months, following previous amendments issued in March, June and July 2026.
The four decrees collectively increased the total authorised strength by 52,500 personnel, including 50,500 military personnel.
