Russia to Fully Expand Troop Size to 1.5 Million... Plan to Implement by 2026

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwak Minjae] The Russian Ministry of Defense is set to fully implement its plan to increase the total troop strength from the current 1.15 million to 1.5 million.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 17th (local time), the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu held a meeting with senior military leadership to discuss measures to implement the president's decision regarding the expansion of troop numbers.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the troop increase, which involves weapons supply and infrastructure construction, is scheduled to be carried out from this year through 2026. During this period, possibilities of military structural changes and administrative reforms were also raised.

At the meeting, Minister Shoigu reportedly ordered the enhancement of combat capabilities of the Navy, Air Force, and Strategic Forces. He instructed special attention to be paid to recruiting contract soldiers (professional soldiers), ensuring timely equipment supply, and expanding burial sites in current military regions and new Russian territories to implement the troop increase plan.

Meanwhile, according to a presidential decree revised last August, Russia increased its military personnel, combining conscripts and contract soldiers, from the previous 1.01 million to 1.15 million starting this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.