Putin Expands Army as Ukraine War Intensifies

Published: 29 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered another expansion of the country’s armed forces as the war in Ukraine enters its 1,679th day, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that North Korea is preparing to send thousands more troops to Russia. The developments come amid continued battlefield casualties, repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and growing pressure on Ukraine’s finances.

Under a presidential decree issued on Monday, Putin ordered the number of active servicemen in Russia’s armed forces to rise to 1.55 million. The overall strength of the Russian armed forces will reach 2,441,630 personnel under the order, including military and other personnel. The number of active servicemen will increase by 15,500.

The latest decision follows another increase ordered in August, underscoring Moscow’s continuing effort to expand the size of its military as the conflict with Ukraine continues. The Kremlin has not indicated that the latest expansion represents a change in its broader military objectives, but the increase comes against the backdrop of sustained fighting and heavy losses reported by both sides.

Russia and Ukraine have both experienced mounting military casualties during the prolonged conflict. The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has developed into a long-running confrontation involving extensive use of drones, missiles, artillery and ground forces.

Zelenskyy meanwhile said on Monday that more than 8,000 North Korean troops were currently on Russian territory and that preparations were under way to deploy another 10,000. His comments point to the continuing military relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang, which has become increasingly visible during the war.

According to Zelenskyy, new information indicated that additional North Korean personnel were being selected for training before being sent to Russia. Ukrainian and South Korean assessments have previously estimated that North Korea sent between 14,000 and 15,000 troops to support Russia’s war effort from 2024 onwards.

Many of those North Korean troops were deployed in Russia’s Kursk region, where they were involved in efforts to help Russian forces push back a Ukrainian incursion. The involvement of North Korean personnel has added another international dimension to a conflict already involving extensive military, financial and political support from countries outside Ukraine and Russia.

Russia and North Korea confirmed in 2025 that Pyongyang had sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces. Both Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un publicly described the soldiers as heroes. Their cooperation has since remained an important feature of the wider relationship between the two governments.

While Moscow has continued strengthening its military position, Ukrainian cities have remained under regular attack. Explosions were heard in Kyiv early Tuesday as Russian attacks continued, according to reports from the Ukrainian capital.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said missile debris fell into the courtyard of a residential building and that another non-residential building caught fire in a different part of the city. The incidents added to the continuing sense of insecurity among civilians in the capital, where residents have repeatedly faced overnight and early-morning air attacks.

Zelenskyy said on Monday that Russian drone strikes across Ukraine had killed nine people and injured more than 80. The attacks affected several areas, including Kyiv, according to Ukrainian authorities. The repeated use of drones has become a major feature of the war, with both sides increasingly relying on unmanned systems to strike military and infrastructure targets.

The continuing attacks are also placing additional pressure on Ukraine’s economy and public finances. Ukraine’s prime minister said the government would postpone some spending commitments because of delays in receiving financial assistance from foreign partners.

Among the projects affected are reconstruction programmes that had been planned as part of efforts to repair damage caused by the war. The government has indicated that the projects have not been abandoned permanently, but that resources must currently be concentrated on critical needs.

Russia’s military campaign has caused extensive destruction across Ukraine, while the cost of maintaining the country’s defence effort has placed enormous demands on its public finances. International assistance has therefore remained central to Ukraine’s ability to sustain government services, defence spending and reconstruction.

The financial pressures are unfolding alongside continuing efforts by European governments and their allies to maintain support for Ukraine. NATO’s senior military commander in Europe said on Monday that Russian attempts to undermine European backing for Ukraine were not succeeding.

US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told European lawmakers that Russian state-directed sabotage was becoming increasingly bold. He referred to incidents including the discovery of an explosive-laden drone at a German airport and an incident involving a Russian naval vessel and a Danish helicopter.

Grynkewich said such actions were intended to create fear and weaken European unity over support for Ukraine. He argued that the strategy was not achieving its intended effect.

The comments highlight concerns among European governments about activity beyond the traditional battlefield. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, European countries have reported a range of incidents involving suspected sabotage, cyber operations and other forms of pressure. Governments across the continent have increasingly focused on protecting critical infrastructure and maintaining public support for assistance to Ukraine.

At the same time, diplomatic calls for an end to the war continue. Pope Leo urged Russia and Ukraine to return to dialogue and discuss how the conflict could be brought to an end.

Speaking to journalists aboard his flight to Rome following a four-day visit to France, the pope said the Catholic Church had a responsibility to promote peace and respect for human life. He called on leaders in Russia, Ukraine and other countries to meet, engage in dialogue and work towards ending the conflict.

His comments came after he had urged European leaders involved in efforts to resolve conflicts to consider concessions as part of the search for peace. The appeal reflects the continuing international concern over the human cost of a war that has now lasted more than four and a half years.

The conflict has also continued to affect the business environment in Russia. Putin has ordered the Russian assets of German retailer Metro AG to be placed under temporary administration, according to an order published by the Russian government.

The order did not provide a specific reason for the move. It comes amid continuing deterioration in relations between Russia and Germany following the invasion of Ukraine.

Similar measures have previously been used against businesses from countries Moscow considers unfriendly. Temporary administration has resulted in Russian interests taking control of operations belonging to several major international companies, sometimes under circumstances that have generated significant concern among foreign investors.

Meanwhile, the geographical reach of the fighting remains a concern for neighbouring countries. A Russian jet-powered drone struck a Ukrainian village near the Polish border on Monday, damaging a border checkpoint, according to a Ukrainian regional official.

The official did not immediately provide detailed information about the checkpoint or the extent of the damage. However, attacks in areas close to Poland have drawn particular attention because of Ukraine’s proximity to NATO territory.

Russia has carried out multiple attacks near Ukraine’s western border in recent weeks, prompting criticism from Warsaw and other European governments. Poland has repeatedly monitored developments along its border and airspace as the war has moved into its fourth year.

The latest developments demonstrate the continuing complexity of the conflict. Russia is expanding its military establishment while deepening cooperation with North Korea, Ukraine is dealing with continued attacks and financial pressure, and European countries remain concerned about security threats extending beyond Ukraine’s battlefield.

For civilians on the ground, however, the war remains defined by more immediate realities: air-raid alerts, damaged homes and infrastructure, casualties and uncertainty about what the next day may bring. With no comprehensive peace agreement in sight, military preparations, international diplomacy and economic pressures continue to shape the course of the conflict.

The latest developments also suggest that the war’s consequences extend well beyond the front lines. Decisions about military manpower in Moscow, troop deployments involving North Korea, reconstruction funding in Kyiv and security concerns across Europe are increasingly interconnected. As both sides continue to face pressure, the search for a sustainable diplomatic path remains one of the most difficult challenges surrounding the conflict.