Zelensky announced mobilization in Russia: Putin increased the size of the army for the fourth time in a year
фото: ЦПД
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has already begun additional mobilization and is trying to attract more people to the war against Ukraine. He said that Moscow also plans to actively recruit foreigners.
Zelenskyy announced this in an evening address.
Against the backdrop of this statement, Vladimir Putin signed a decree on September 28 to further increase the staffing levels of the Russian army.
The number of military personnel has been increased by another 15,500 to 1,550,500. The total number of personnel in the Russian Armed Forces should now be 2,441,630.
This is the fourth increase in the size of the Russian army since the beginning of 2026.
In late July, Putin increased the number of military personnel by 25,000 and civilian employees by 2,000. In mid-June, the number of military personnel increased by 7,700, and in March, by another 2,000.
Until 2026, the size of the Russian army was last increased in September 2024 – then the staff was expanded immediately by 180 thousand servicemen. In December 2023, the number of military personnel was increased by 169.4 thousand, and in August 2022 – by 137 thousand.
Thus, in 2026 alone, Putin has already increased the size of the Russian army four times. In the previous years of full-scale war, he signed such decrees three times.