Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to further increase the number of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, bringing it to 2 million 389 thousand people. This decision is enshrined in an official document published by the Russian media.
According to the report, of the total number, 1.5 million will be military personnel. The previous increase in the size of the Russian army took place in December 2023, when the staff increased to 2 million 209 thousand people, including 1 million 320 thousand soldiers.
Analysts say the increase is part of a larger Russian strategy that goes beyond the war in Ukraine. According to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), such moves are aimed at strengthening the Russian military in the long term through wide-ranging reforms that began as early as 2023.
U reports The ISW notes that these reforms include the restoration of the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts, as well as the formation of new army corps, combined arms, and the creation of mechanized and airborne divisions. It is important to note that the current changes undo key aspects of the 2008-2012 reforms introduced by former Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov. The size of the Russian army was then reduced from 1.3 million to 1 million troops, and the command of the army was centralized, favoring the brigade level instead of the division level.
ISW analysts note that as new divisions, corps and armies are created, the number of personnel should also increase, although in practice this happens mostly “on paper”. At the same time, the successful implementation of these reforms will largely depend on how Russia continues to wage war in Ukraine.
The report also points to serious medium- and long-term constraints that stand in the way of successfully implementing these reforms. These include economic problems, as well as difficulties with the proper staffing of new divisions. Experts believe that these factors will greatly complicate Russia’s ability to maintain the growth of its army and implement planned reforms.
