Putin signs decree increasing size of Russian armed forces

Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin has signed a decree increasing the official number of personnel in the Russian Armed Forces to 2,441,630.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS

Quote from the decree: "The authorised number of personnel in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation shall be set at 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 active-duty military personnel."

Details: Under the decree, Putin has increased the size of the Russian armed forces by 15,500 personnel.

This is the fourth time he has signed such a decree this year. The Russian leader signed the previous decrees in March, June and late July.

Background:

• On 25 September, Putin said Russia is aware of what he described as violations of Russian speakers' rights in the Baltic states but is "not preparing" for war in Europe.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes there is a significant risk that Russia will attack European countries.

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