OSINT researcher Chris O’Wiki has compiled several observations regarding Putin’s latest decree increasing the authorised strength of the Russian Armed Forces by 15,500 personnel.
Such decrees tend not to attract significant media attention because the numbers involved are relatively small. However, viewed in a broader context, this is already the fifth decree increasing the size of the Russian Armed Forces within a year.
Since 2023, the authorised strength of Russia’s military has increased by a total of 400,000 personnel through such decrees.
According to the researcher, one Russian commentator has described this practice as “creeping mobilisation.”
This approach differs from the sudden announcement of mobilisation in October 2022, when hundreds of thousands of reservists were called up at once. Nevertheless, creating additional authorised military positions implies that they will eventually need to be filled, primarily by contract soldiers.
This gives the Russian leadership greater scope to expand military recruitment without making a potentially disruptive public announcement of a new wave of mobilisation, instead using quieter and more gradual methods.
It also provides a mechanism for restructuring the armed forces in line with current requirements, including the ongoing formation of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts.
