Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree to increase the number of Russian troops by 180,000, bringing the total number of military personnel to 1.5 million, effective Dec. 1. This decision aims to support ongoing military action in Ukraine. Including this increase, the total number of Russian military personnel will reach nearly 2.4 million. The decree also instructs the government to secure the necessary funding for this expansion.
A previous increase in troop numbers was ordered by Putin last December, setting the total number at about 2.2 million, including 1.32 million troops. Russian forces, particularly the most skilled units, have been carrying out an offensive in eastern Ukraine, making gradual progress over recent months.
Since June, Putin had stated that nearly 700,000 troops were involved in what the Kremlin refers to as a “special military operation” in Ukraine. In response to Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the fall of 2022, Russia called up 300,000 reservists. However, authorities have now shifted towards recruiting volunteer soldiers, attracted by competitive wages, to fill the ranks in Ukraine.
Concerns have been raised by analysts about the Kremlin’s hesitance to mobilize more reservists, fearing social unrest as seen in 2022 when many Russians fled the country to avoid military service. The shortage of military personnel has been identified as a significant factor behind Ukraine’s successful operations in Russia’s Kursk region that began on Aug. 6.
To prevent the redeployment of troops from eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin has relied on reinforcements from other regions to counter the Ukrainian advance. On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported regaining control of two villages in the Kursk region previously held by Ukrainian forces.
