Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new presidential decree calling for the expansion of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, of whom 1,550,500 are active. This was the fourth time in 2026 that Putin ordered an expansion of the army, with 15,500 new troops. This expansion took place four and a half years after the Russian-Uu war and took place against the background of an increase in the number of casualties reported by both sides. At the same time, President Zelensky of Ukraine indicated that more than 8,000 North Korean soldiers had been deployed in Russia, and 10,000 North Korean soldiers were being trained to be deployed. In addition, the Kremlin announced a moratorium on air strikes in Kyiv during the visit of the United States Special Envoy and ordered the takeover of Russian assets of a number of Western retail enterprises.
According to various media reports, on 28 September 2026 Putin signed a presidential decree setting the authorized strength of the Russian armed forces at 2,441,630 personnel, of whom 1,550,500 are active. This expansion resulted in the addition of 15,500 active soldiers. According to previous reports, the total strength of the Russian army was 2,426,130 and the number of active soldiers was 1,535,000. This expansion was the fourth in 2026, following its expansion in March, June and July. The total number of Russian troops has increased by 47,860 since March.
The March adjustment set the total military size at 2,391,770, of which 1,502,640 were active soldiers. The presidential decree of 12 June increased the number of active soldiers to 1,510,000 and the total army to 2,399,130. In late July, decree added 25,000 active soldiers to establish specialized military construction units. The latest expansion brought the total number to 2,441,630 and the number of active military personnel to 1,550,500.
NATO is concerned about the expansion of the Russian army as a sign of continued Russian military escalation during the war in Ukraine. NATO member States are assessing the impact of this move on the security situation in Europe and are considering appropriate responses. In social media, President Zelensky of Ukraine stated that more than 8,000 Korean soldiers had been deployed in Russia, and 10,000 more were being trained to be deployed to Russia. He noted that the Korean soldiers were being selected for training before being deployed to Russia.
For the first time last year, North Korea's leaders, Kim Jong-un and Putin, confirmed that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had sent soldiers to Russia to participate in the war in Ukraine, and both leaders described them as “heroes”. It is estimated that, since 2024, the DPRK has sent some 14,000 to 15,000 soldiers to Russia in support of Russian war operations in Ukraine.
The Kremlin announced that it would take over the operations of the German retailer Metro in Russia and implement interim management of the United States packaging manufacturer ' s plant in Russia. These measures were based on an executive order signed by Putin in August, which expanded State control over “strategicly important” facilities and allowed the Government to take over when the owners failed to protect them from Ukrainian attacks or to repair damage in a timely manner. Under Russian law, such transfers are expressed as temporary “government control”, which means that they may eventually be returned to private ownership.
In addition, the Kremlin announced that it would take over the Russian assets of Western retail enterprises such as Auchan, Nestlé and Leroy Merlin. These actions were seen as a response to Western sanctions and Ukrainian attacks. Putin has also ordered the reconstruction of commercial warehouses damaged or destroyed as a result of the Ukrainian drone attack, particularly those of Wildberries, an online Russian retailer. In his television speech, Putin stated that, despite the damage caused by the attacks in Ukraine, they had not led to critical consequences and that the Russian economy was still growing modestly.
On the diplomatic front, Putin ordered a 72-hour moratorium on air strikes in Kiev during the visit of the United States Special Envoy. United States envoys Witkoff and Kushner met with Putin in Moscow to discuss negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Zelinski expressed his willingness to meet with Putin to end the war and stressed that that was a priority. He mentioned discussions with President Trump's team on how to end the war, including the possibility of an energy ceasefire.
This military build-up directly affected Russian active soldiers and reserves. The additional 15,500 active posts meant that the Russian army needed to recruit or recruit more soldiers. For Russian citizens, this may mean an increase in recruitment pressure, especially in the context of the continuation of the war. However, after the last mobilization of the reserve in 2022, Putin has yet to mobilize again on a large scale. The Ukrainian side accused Russia of preparing another military mobilization, but Putin called it “false information” from Ukraine.
For Western enterprises, the Russian takeover of their assets in Russia means that these companies may be at risk of asset losses. Under the August executive order, the Russian Government could confiscate “strategicly important” facilities on security grounds, which lowered the threshold for confiscation. The enterprises affected included Metro in Germany, Auchan and Leroy Merlin in France, and Nestlé in Switzerland. These enterprises need to assess the risks of their operations in Russia and consider whether to take legal action or withdraw from the Russian market.
For Ukraine, the expansion of the Russian army and the deployment of Korean soldiers have increased the intensity of the war. Ukraine needs to address additional military pressures and consider how to deal with the involvement of Korean soldiers. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has also announced the use of blackout for missile and drone intercept data in Kiev, which is considered an implicit recognition of the decline in air defence capabilities in the West.
The details of the implementation of the expansion of the Russian army are not clear. The presidential decree did not explain the reasons for the expansion, nor did it provide a specific plan for recruitment or conscription. Observers will be closely watching whether Russia will mobilize and how expansion will affect battlefield dynamics. NATO and Ukraine will continue to assess Russia ' s military movements and consider corresponding responses.
The question of the takeover of assets by Western enterprises in Russia is still developing. The affected enterprises may need to challenge the decision of the Russian Government through legal means, but this may be difficult given the legal environment in Russia. The enterprise also needs to assess the long-term risks of its operations in Russia and consider whether to continue operations or withdraw.
The progress of the US-Russian talks will affect the course of the war in Ukraine. The meeting between the United States Special Envoy and Putin had provided an opportunity for negotiations, but it was not clear whether a substantive agreement could be reached. Zelensky expressed his willingness to meet with Putin, but all needed to be ready. In the coming weeks, the parties will follow closely the progress of the negotiations and assess the possibility of a ceasefire or peace agreement.
In addition, it was a matter of concern whether the Russian moratorium on air strikes in Kyiv would be resumed after the Special Envoy ' s visit. If air strikes resume, the security situation in the capital of Ukraine will deteriorate again. Ukraine needs to be prepared to respond to possible military operations and continue to strengthen its air defence capabilities.