Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree raising the authorised strength of Russia's armed forces.

The new ceiling is 2,441,630 people, including 1,550,500 military personnel. That is an increase of 15,500 military personnel over the previous authorised limit, reports said on September 29.

The decree sets the official target size of the military, not the actual number of people in uniform. Countries use such ceilings to define the maximum headcount their armed forces may reach.

Russia has raised this ceiling several times in recent years. Each increase has drawn attention because of the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. There has been no announcement of mass conscription alongside this decree.

Military analysts note that raising the ceiling is a routine administrative step. But it also signals that Moscow plans to keep a larger standing force.

The order takes effect as fighting continues in eastern and southern Ukraine, with both sides reporting heavy drone and artillery exchanges.