Putin Raises Russia’s Military Personnel Cap as Zelenskyy Warns of More North Korean Deployments
Russia will raise its armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 active servicemen, as the Ukraine war enters another winter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered another expansion of Russia’s armed forces, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow is preparing to deploy 10,000 additional North Korean troops.
A presidential decree published Monday sets Russia’s armed forces at 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 active servicemen. The order adds 15,500 active troops and marks the fourth increase in Russia’s military staffing levels this year.
Zelenskyy said Monday that Russia has begun another mobilization push. He estimated that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia and said another 10,000 are being selected for training and later deployment.
“Russia is paying, among other things, with technology,” Zelenskyy said, adding that production of Shahed-type attack drones has been established in North Korea with Russian technical support.
The moves come as the war in Ukraine approaches its fifth winter. Russia has not provided a reason for the latest staffing increase, and diplomatic talks aimed at ending the conflict have stalled in recent months.
