New Russian mobilisation: Putin signs decree adding 15,500 troops to army

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree boosting the size of the army by 15,500 troops in the fourth such order this year. "The authorised personnel strength of the Russian armed forces is to be set at 2,441,630 units, including 1,550,500 military personnel," the decree said. Putin had previously signed documents boosting the size of the army in March, June and July. The combined increase since March amounts to 47,860 soldiers. The president did not state the reason for the decision, but it has been taken against the backdrop of rising losses on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides in the full-scale war in Ukraine.