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(https://www.themoscowtimes.com/contribute?utm_source=contribute&utm_medium=internal-header-mobile) Contribute today     (putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812.html) Putin Orders Russian Army to Increase Troop Size to 1.55M     Sep. 29, 2026     (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812) (Share on Facebook)   (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812&text=Putin Orders Russian Army to Increase Troop Size to 1.55M) (Share on Twitter)   (https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812) (Share on Telegram)   (https://wa.me/?text=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812) (Share on WhatsApp)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2a15595f48404f495e1779424b584f4e100a7a5f5e43440a65584e4f58590a785f5959434b440a6b5847530a5e450a634449584f4b594f0a7e5845455a0a7943504f0a5e450a1b041f1f670c48454e53176b440a4b585e4349464f0a4c5845470a7e424f0a67455949455d0a7e43474f59100a425e5e5a591005055d5d5d045e424f47455949455d5e43474f590449454705181a181c051a13051813055a5f5e43440745584e4f585907585f5959434b44074b584753075e4507434449584f4b594f075e5845455a075943504f075e45071b1f1f47074b1319121b18) (Share with email)   (https://flipboard.com) (Share on Flipboard)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812/pdf) (Download as PDF)         Vladimir Putin looks to new horizons.  kremlin.ru    President Vladimir Putin (http://static.kremlin.ru/media/events/files/ru/rF6SFqZhhAAWCJ1mwDXbcVubnqZ1ohAF.pdf)  signed  an executive order on Monday that raises the strength of the Russian military by 15,500 troops, bringing the total number of active-duty servicemen to 1.55 million.  Putin has raised the number of military personnel several times since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.  Monday’s order does not explain the reason for the latest increase.  The Russian military’s total strength now stands at 2,441,630 personnel.  This year, the military has (https://meduza.io/news/2026/09/28/putin-uvelichil-shtatnuyu-chislennost-armii-v-chetvertyy-raz-s-nachala-goda) (created) created 52,500 new positions, according to the exiled news outlet Meduza, the vast majority of which are active-duty military slots rather than civilian support staff.   news (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/as-fears-of-post-election-mobilization-swirl-russian-activists-prepare-for-the-worst) (As Fears of Post-Election Mobilization Swirl, Russian Activists Prepare for the Worst) As Fears of Post-Election Mobilization Swirl, Russian Activists Prepare for the Worst  Read more    Ukraine has accused Russia of preparing for a new mass mobilization of troops after holding parliamentary elections last week.   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2104645205190127636) c laimed  Russia has “in effect” begun the process of surging troop recruitment “through various means,” though he did not provide details.  Putin, who last ordered a “partial” mobilization of reservists in September 2022, has dismissed the mobilization claims as “disinformation.”  Some military experts have argued that the Kremlin is unlikely to issue a new draft order like in 2022 due to the fact that “partial” mobilization remains in effect.  Others have(https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/07/21/should-russia-brace-for-a-new-mobilization-a93256) cautioned that another mass call-up of service-age men would encounter logistical hurdles and fail to address challenges on the front line.     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(https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812) (Share on Facebook)   (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812&text=Putin Orders Russian Army to Increase Troop Size to 1.55M) (Share on Twitter)   (https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812) (Share on Telegram)   (https://wa.me/?text=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812) (Share on WhatsApp)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7d420e081f17181e09402e151c0f1819475d2d080914135d320f19180f0e5d2f080e0e141c135d3c0f10045d09125d34131e0f181c0e185d290f12120d5d2e1407185d09125d4c534848305b1f121904403c135d1c0f09141e11185d1b0f12105d2915185d30120e1e120a5d291410180e475d1509090d0e4752520a0a0a5309151810120e1e120a091410180e531e1210524f4d4f4b524d44524f44520d0809141350120f19180f0e500f080e0e141c13501c0f10045009125014131e0f181c0e1850090f12120d500e140718500912504c484810501c444e454c4f) (Share with email)   (https://flipboard.com) (Share on Flipboard)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812/pdf) (Download as PDF)       Most read  Just in   (putin-orders-russian-army-to-increase-troop-size-to-155m-a93812.html) (Putin Orders Russian Army to Increase Troop Size to 1.55M) Sep. 29, 2026  Putin Orders Russian Army to Increase Troop Size to 1.55M     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/29/fire-at-pyrotechnics-factory-in-yaroslavl-region-kills-14-a93811) (Fire at Pyrotechnics Factory in Yaroslavl Region Kills 14) Sep. 29, 2026  Fire at Pyrotechnics Factory in Yaroslavl Region Kills 14     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/28/russia-raises-2027-military-spending-by-27-budget-documents-show-a93810) (Russia Raises 2027 Military Spending by 27%, Budget Documents Show) Sep. 28, 2026  Russia Raises 2027 Military Spending by 27%, Budget Documents Show     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/28/moscows-audacious-asset-grab-is-a-warning-to-western-companies-a93802) (Moscow's Audacious Asset Grab Is a Warning to Western Companies) Sep. 28, 2026  Moscow's Audacious Asset Grab Is a Warning to Western Companies     (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/28/russia-has-a-budget-problem-borrowing-its-way-out-wont-be-so-simple-a93804) (Russia Has a Budget Problem. 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