Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a presidential decree ordering a significant expansion of the nation’s armed forces, marking the fourth such increase in military staffing levels this year. The directive, published on Russia’s official legal database on Monday, raises the total strength of Russia’s military to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 active servicemen—an addition of 15,500 active troops.
The move comes as the war in Ukraine enters another winter, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The Kremlin did not provide an immediate justification for the expansion, though analysts had widely anticipated some form of mobilization following the recent State Duma elections. In those tightly controlled elections held earlier this month, the ruling United Russia party secured a record number of seats.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that Russia has initiated a fresh wave of mobilization. He revealed that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed on Russian territory, with preparations underway to deploy an additional 10,000 soldiers who are being selected for training.
“In 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,” Zelenskyy stated on social media. This follows a meeting last year in Beijing, where Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for sending troops, describing them as having fought “courageously and heroically.”
Tensions escalated further on Monday when a series of Russian attacks struck Kyiv. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that two people were killed and 26 injured in the strikes. Footage showed a fire burning at the Dobrobut medical center following an aerial attack on September 28.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have stalled in recent months, partly due to a shift in U.S. focus toward its confrontation with Iran.Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly last week, Zelenskyy warned that the upcoming winter would be particularly painful for Russia if a truce is not agreed upon in the coming weeks, while acknowledging that Ukraine also faces a difficult season ahead.
Horrifying that a medical center was hit again. Two dead civilians in Kyiv is just another tragedy in this endless war.
Why is there no immediate comment from the US or NATO about the NK deployment? Silence feels loud right now.
North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia? The geopolitical shift here is terrifying and completely unexpected.
2.4 million troops is massive. It really shows the scale of Putin’s desperation for manpower this winter.