A billboard promoting contract army service and reading \u201c5 200 000 rubles for the first year of the contract\u201d (about USD 61 700) is seen in western Moscow on September 14, 2026.<\/p>\n
Russian President Vladimir Putin<\/a> has ordered a further increase in the size of the country\u2019s army, boosting<\/a> the number of active service members more than four-and-a-half years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n The presidential decree, which was published<\/a> Monday on Russia\u2019s official legal information database, will put the size of Russia\u2019s armed forces at 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 active servicemen.<\/p>\n The move, which raises the number of active troops by 15,500, is the fourth order of its kind this year and comes as both countries sustained heavy losses. The Kremlin did not give a reason for the decision.<\/p>\n Analysts widely expected<\/a> Russia to implement some form of mobilization after the State Duma election earlier this month, a prospect that is unpopular within Russia.<\/p>\n Russia\u2019s ruling party, United Russia, won a record number of seats<\/a> in the vote, election officials said<\/a> on Sept. 25, a result that was all but predetermined in the country\u2019s tightly controlled political system.<\/p>\n Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/a> said Monday that Russia has effectively started a fresh wave of military mobilization, estimating that there are currently more than 8,000 North Korean troops on Russian territory.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition, preparations are underway to deploy another 10,000 troops \u2013 they are being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia,\u201d Zelenskyy said<\/a> via social media.<\/p>\n \u201cIn return, Russia is paying, among other things, with technology: production of Shahed-type attack drones has been established in North Korea with Russian technical support,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n During a meeting in China\u2019s capital last year, Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for sending troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine, saying<\/a> they fought \u201ccourageously and heroically.\u201d<\/p>\n A wave of Russian attacks on Kyiv on Monday killed two people and injured 26, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said<\/a> via Telegram.<\/p>\n Diplomatic talks to find a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine war have stalled in recent months as the U.S. has shifted focus to its war against Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly last week<\/a>, Zelenskyy warned that the coming winter will be painful for Russia if a truce cannot be agreed to in the coming weeks, while acknowledging that Ukraine\u2019s government also fears another difficult winter.<\/p>\n