Putin Signs Decree to Expand Russian Armed Forces Again

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on September 28, 2026, increasing the authorized strength of the Russian Armed Forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 active-duty servicemembers. This marks the fourth expansion since the beginning of 2026. The report, sourced from state broadcaster CCTV, presents the move as a routine administrative decision without providing context on the ongoing war in Ukraine.