The official figure: 1.5 million active soldiers since December 2024
In brief: March 2026 figures
Following Putin's latest decree, which took effect on March 4, 2026, Russia officially has 1,502,640 active military personnel out of a total of 2,391,770 people in the armed forces, including civilians and reservists. It is the world's second-largest army by personnel, behind China. 2025 defense budget: more than EUR 119 billion, or over 6% of Russian GDP.
How many military personnel are there in Russia? Since the presidential decree that took effect on March 4, 2026, the official figure is 1,502,640 active-duty military personnel, for a total of 2,391,770 people in the Russian armed forces, including civilians and reservists. These figures make Russia the world's second-largest military power by number of soldiers, behind China.
But behind these official figures lies a more complex reality. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has increased the size of his army three times in a row, from one million soldiers to 1.5 million over the course of three years. Experts are debating the long-term viability of this accelerated militarization.
Evolution of Russian personnel since the invasion of Ukraine
The Russian army has continued to expand its personnel since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. Here are the details of this unprecedented expansion since the end of the Cold War.
| Date | Active military personnel | Total forces | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-2022 | ~1,000,000 | ~2,000,000 | Period of relative stability |
| August 2022 | 1 150 000 | 2 000 000 | +137,000 after the invasion of Ukraine |
| December 2023 | 1 320 000 | 2 209 130 | +170,000 (Putin decree) |
| December 2024 | 1 500 000 | 2 389 130 | +180,000 (3rd increase) |
| March 2026 | 1 502 640 | 2 391 770 | Latest decree in force |
Sources: Official Russian presidential decrees | Euronews, Sept. 2024 | Business AM, March 2026 | Radio-Canada, Dec. 2023.
Russia in the global ranking
Here is how the major military powers rank in terms of active personnel and defense budget in 2025.
| Country | Active military personnel | Defense budget | % of GDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | ~2,000,000 | ~USD 230 billion | 1,7% |
| Russia | 1 502 640 | ~EUR 119 billion | >6% |
| USA | 1 320 000 | USD 886 billion | 3,5% |
| India | 1 430 000 | ~USD 75 billion | 2,4% |
| France | ~205,000 | EUR 43.9 billion | 2% |
Sources: Global Firepower 2025 | SIPRI 2024 | armees.com.
What the official figures do not say
Official strength vs. actual strength
Russian presidential decrees set a personnel ceiling, not an actual strength level. In its 2024 study, IFRI emphasizes that Russian losses in Ukraine—estimated at between 150,000 and 300,000 dead and wounded, depending on the source—create a permanent shortfall that new recruits struggle to fully make up.
Recruitment under high tension
To achieve its objectives, the Kremlin has launched massive recruitment campaigns offering very high salaries and bonuses. In 2025, nearly 410,000 people enlisted voluntarily, most of them under the age of 40. Moscow also organizes two annual conscription campaigns: 160,000 recruits in spring 2025 and 135,000 in autumn 2025.
A record wartime budget: more than 6% of GDP
To finance this expansion, Russia is allocating nearly €119 billion to defense in 2025, representing more than 6% of its GDP and 40% of the federal budget. This is the highest level since the collapse of the USSR in 1991. By comparison, France allocates 2% of its GDP to defense.
FAQ: The most frequently asked questions
How many Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine?
In June 2024, Putin stated that nearly 700,000 military personnel were deployed in Ukraine, representing approximately half of the total active personnel. This figure includes regular soldiers, National Guard forces, mercenaries, and forces from the separatist republics.
Can Russia really reach 1.5 million soldiers?
Experts are nuanced. The Kremlin's financial resources and political will are real, but losses in Ukraine, demographic decline, and competition from the civilian sector make the goal highly ambitious. Many analysts believe that the actual figures are significantly lower than the official numbers.
Does Russia have the world's largest nuclear arsenal?
Yes. Regardless of its conventional forces, Russia possesses the world's largest nuclear arsenal, with approximately 6,255 nuclear warheads, including 1,588 operationally deployed according to SIPRI's 2024 estimates. This nuclear superiority remains the foundation of Russia's strategic power.
Conclusion
How many military personnel are there in Russia? Since the decree of March 4, 2026, the official answer has been 1,502,640 active military personnel, for a total of 2,391,770 people in the armed forces. This makes it the world's second-largest military by personnel numbers after China, following three successive increases since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. With a defense budget exceeding 6% of GDP in 2025, Russia has made military power its absolute priority.
Passionate about the tactical and military world? Explore our selection of tactical vests and military backpacks at Surplus Militaires France.