Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved another increase in the authorized strength of the Russian Armed Forces, raising the overall personnel ceiling to 2,441,630. The decree sets the number of active duty military personnel at 1,550,500, adding 15,500 service members to the level approved in July.
By Open Chronicle | September 29, 2026
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree increasing the authorized strength of the Russian Armed Forces to more than 2.44 million personnel, marking another expansion of the country’s officially approved military manpower.
Under the new decree, the Russian Armed Forces will have an authorized total strength of 2,441,630 personnel.
Of that figure, 1,550,500 are designated as active duty military personnel.
The latest adjustment increases the authorized active duty component by 15,500 service members compared with the previous level established in July.
More than 1.55 million active duty personnel
The presidential decree establishes an authorized active duty strength of 1,550,500 military personnel.
The remaining authorized positions within the overall total cover other personnel serving within the Russian Armed Forces.
The figures represent authorized staffing levels rather than necessarily indicating the exact number of personnel currently serving at any particular moment.
The decree was published on Russia’s official legal information portal.
Another increase after July expansion
The latest decision follows a previous adjustment announced in July.
At that time, Putin increased the authorized strength of the Russian Armed Forces to 2,426,130 personnel.
That total included 1,535,000 active duty military personnel.
The new decree therefore raises the overall authorized strength by 15,500 personnel, with the active duty component increasing by the same amount.
The progression brings the figures from 2,426,130 total personnel and 1,535,000 active duty personnel in July to 2,441,630 and 1,550,500 respectively under the latest order.
Government ordered to provide necessary funding
The decree also addresses the financial requirements associated with the larger military establishment.
Russia’s government has been instructed to provide the Defense Ministry with the federal funding required to maintain the newly authorized personnel level.
Increasing the official size of the armed forces carries costs extending beyond salaries. A larger military establishment requires accommodation, training, equipment, logistics, medical support and other infrastructure.
The decree itself establishes the personnel ceiling and directs the government to provide the resources necessary to support it.
Russia continues adjusting military manpower
The latest order represents another step in Moscow’s continuing adjustment of the authorized size of its armed forces.
The relatively short period between the July increase and the latest decree illustrates that the Kremlin is continuing to revise the personnel structure of the Russian military.
The new figures establish an authorized active duty force exceeding 1.55 million personnel and an overall armed forces structure of more than 2.44 million.
However, the distinction between authorized strength and actual deployed or available manpower remains important.
An authorized ceiling defines how many positions the Russian military is permitted to maintain. It does not by itself establish how many of those positions are currently filled, how many personnel are combat ready or how forces are distributed across Russia’s military commands.
New authorized ceiling takes Russian forces above 2.44 million
With the latest decree, Russia’s officially authorized military establishment reaches 2,441,630 personnel.
The active duty component accounts for 1,550,500 of that total.
Compared with the July authorization, both figures have increased by 15,500.
The decision represents a further formal expansion of Russia’s military personnel structure as Moscow continues adjusting the size and resources of its armed forces.