Putin increases Russian army numbers despite slowing progress in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin will be able to count on more and more soldiers. The Russian president signed a decree on Monday raising the authorized number of soldiers in the armed forces to 15,500, his fourth such decision this year.

Putin's order comes as both Russia and Ukraine suffer mounting losses in a war in Ukraine that has lasted more than four and a half years. The decree, however, gives no reason for this increase and does not specify how these new positions will be filled.

Russian advances slow in Ukraine

“The authorized personnel strength of the Russian armed forces is set at 2,441,630 units, including 1,550,500 military personnel,” the decree states. The master of the Kremlin had already signed documents increasing the strength of the army last March, June and July. The cumulative increase since March amounts to 47,860 soldiers.

Russian advances on the battlefield have slowed this year, with the widespread use of drones on the front making rapid, massive troop movements almost impossible.

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