Putin orders fourth expansion of Russian armed forces amid Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday that expands the armed forces by 15,500 positions, bringing the authorized strength to 2,441,630 personnel. The new slots will be added to the existing 1,550,500 service members, raising the total number of active servicemen. This is the fourth expansion order issued by Putin in 2024, following similar increases in March, June and August. The decree is part of Russia’s effort to reinforce its military presence on the Eastern Front, where fighting against Ukrainian forces continues to claim thousands of lives. Analysts say the expansion is intended to address manpower shortages and sustain operational tempo in the conflict. The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet detailed how the new recruits will be trained or deployed. The move comes amid mounting international pressure and sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine. The expansion also signals Russia’s willingness to commit more resources to the war effort despite economic and diplomatic costs.