Why has Putin added 15,000 new soldiers to Russia’s army?

What Happened

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Sunday increasing the authorised personnel strength of the Russian Armed Forces by 15,500 military personnel, setting the total at 2,441,630 units, including 1,550,500 military personnel, according to the decree cited by Al Jazeera. The Kremlin did not elaborate on why the additional troops were needed or how they would be recruited. This is the fourth such expansion ordered this year; together with March, June and July decrees, Putin has added 47,860 military personnel since March. The expansion comes as Russia's battlefield advances in Ukraine have stalled after more than four and a half years of fighting, and as both sides rely increasingly on drones and long-range strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that more than 8,000 North Korean soldiers were currently in Russia and that preparations were under way to deploy another 10,000; North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 soldiers to support Russia since 2024, according to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates. Ukraine's military claimed Russian losses in 2026 had surpassed 300,000, with more than 20,000 casualties in the first half of September alone, figures Al Jazeera could not independently verify.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Putin's repeated troop expansions signal Russian preparation for a protracted war, though analysts quoted in the article differ on immediate impact: Andrei Kortunov of the Russian International Affairs Council called the 15,500 increase 'technical' and unlikely to change conflict dynamics, while Alexey D Muraviev of Edith Cowan University linked the move to longer-term strategic concerns, including tensions with NATO and the buildup of Japanese and US military power in the Pacific. The decree also comes amid Russian manpower strain and stalled advances, with Ukraine claiming Russian losses exceeded 300,000 in 2026, and North Korean troop deployments highlighting Moscow's reliance on external manpower.

Watch For

Monitor whether the Kremlin provides details on recruitment, new unit formation, or links to a possible new mobilisation, which Ukraine has repeatedly predicted and Russia denies. Watch for Ukrainian and South Korean updates on North Korean troop numbers in Russia, as Zelenskyy said more than 8,000 are currently present with another 10,000 preparing to deploy. Track Russian and Ukrainian aerial attacks, including Kyiv security measures such as Taras Shevchenko National University's remote classes until at least October 16, and verify Ukrainian claims of recapturing 51 square kilometres in northern Donetsk.