Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree raising the authorised strength of the country’s armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military service members, an increase of 15,500 over the previous limit.

The new ceiling, reported on Monday and effective from January 1, 2027, marks another expansion of Russia’s formal military establishment as the war in Ukraine continues. The overall figure covers both uniformed troops and civilian staff.

Reports note that the authorised number does not necessarily reflect the actual number of serving personnel, which remains classified. Russia last adjusted the force-size ceiling in 2024.

Western analysts say the move fits Moscow’s stated aim of maintaining a large standing force, though it does not by itself indicate new mobilisation plans. The decree was published on the Kremlin’s official portal of legal acts.

Moscow has repeatedly raised the formal ceiling on its armed forces since 2022, citing the need to strengthen its military amid what it calls growing threats from NATO. Analysts note that authorised strength and actual troop numbers often differ substantially, and the decree itself does not order any new call-up of reservists or change conscription rules.