Zelenskyy Says Russia Is Preparing for Mobilization as Putin Expands Army for Fourth Time in a Year

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has already begun additional mobilization as Moscow seeks to bring more people into the war against Ukraine. He also said that Russia plans to step up efforts to recruit foreign nationals to join its forces, as the Kremlin continues to expand its military manpower.

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 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 Russian army last increased in size in September 2024, when the staff was expanded immediately by 180 thousand servicemen. In December 2023, the number of military personnel 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.