Putin signs decree adding 15,500 troops to Russian army

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree increasing the size of the armed forces by 15,500 troops, marking the fourth such expansion this year and bringing the total authorized strength to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military members. The combined increase since March totals 47,860 soldiers, with previous decrees issued in March, June, and July. Putin did not state a reason, but the move comes amid slowing Russian battlefield advances and reported Ukrainian breakthroughs, with drone warfare hindering large-scale troop movements. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the decree an additional mobilisation and claimed North Korea is preparing to send 10,000 more soldiers to Russia, on top of 8,000 already deployed. Putin previously dismissed rumours of a new mobilisation wave as "utter nonsense," though analysts note shrinking volunteer recruitment.