Putin raises Russian army size for fourth time this year

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday raising the authorized number of military personnel by 15,500, marking the fourth such increase this year. The total authorized strength now stands at 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 soldiers. The decree provides no explicit reason for the increase and does not specify how the new positions will be filled. It comes as both Russia and Ukraine suffer growing casualties in the war, now in its fourth and a half year, with Russian advances slowing due to widespread drone use. The cumulative increase since March totals 47,860 soldiers. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of preparing a new mobilization, which Putin has dismissed as disinformation, though his last reservist call-up was in 2022.