Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new decree setting the authorized strength of the country’s Armed Forces. According to the document, the total personnel of the Russian army now stands at 2,391,770 people, including 1,502,640 servicemen.

The previous decree, issued on September 16, 2024, and now repealed, set the total at 2,389,130 personnel, including 1.5 million military personnel. The latest adjustment therefore increases the official size of the armed forces by just over 2,600 people.

The new decree, signed on March 4, 2026, has already come into force. In addition to uniformed troops, the structure of the Russian Armed Forces also includes civilian personnel. These employees — such as medical staff, drivers, cooks, psychologists and other specialists — account for roughly 40 percent of the overall workforce.

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov reported that nearly 410,000 people voluntarily signed contracts for military service in 2025. Around two-thirds of those recruits were under the age of 40.

The most significant increase in the army’s size occurred in September 2024, when another presidential decree expanded the Armed Forces by 180,000 personnel. That decision was linked to the creation of new military districts and the need to staff them with trained personnel.