The authorized strength of the Russian Armed Forces has been increased by 27,000 personnel to support the phased creation of dedicated military construction units.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, changes in the structure and size of the Armed Forces, along with the need to respond to emerging threats, have increased demand for new military and military-social infrastructure.

The ministry said some construction projects require specific technical standards and strict secrecy, making it difficult to rely on civilian contractors. Creating in-house military construction units is expected to improve the speed and efficiency of the defence construction system.

Army General Anatoly Grebenyuk described the decision as timely and justified, saying the need for such units had existed for some time. He added that the issue was formally addressed under Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and Deputy Defence Minister Pavel Fradkov.

The new units will build priority and strategically important facilities for the Russian Armed Forces across the country.

In late July, President Vladimir Putin approved a total authorized strength of 2,426,130 personnel for the Russian Armed Forces, including 1,535,000 service members. The overall force grew by 27,000 positions, 25,000 of them military. The decree took effect on August 1.