The Russian military has added 15,500 new positions in September 2026, bringing the total theoretical personnel of the armed forces to 2,441,630, with 1,550,500 of those being active military personnel. This marks the fourth increase in military positions this year, following similar expansions in March, June, and July. Since March, the number of military positions has grown by 47,860, representing a 3.2% increase over six months. These expansions suggest an ongoing commitment to strengthening military capabilities. The Russian government has also announced plans to allocate 17,100 billion rubles (approximately 178 billion euros) to defense in 2027. This amount is 27% higher than the original budget for that year, which was set at 13,500 billion rubles, and 32% more than the 2026 defense budget, which was approximately 134 billion euros. This significant increase in funding indicates a continued emphasis on military development and readiness. Analysts suggest that Russia does not expect the conflict in Ukraine to conclude soon. Ukrainian officials believe that President Vladimir Putin might have already initiated a "supplementary mobilization" to expand the size of the Russian military, particularly in preparation for the potential deployment of 10,000 North Korean fighters. According to Ukrainian intelligence, Moscow's goal is to mobilize an additional 300,000 fighters by the end of 2027, matching the number of reservists mobilized in September 2022. The decree announcing the 2022 mobilization has not been officially revoked, meaning that the men mobilized during that time cannot be demobilized until the mobilization is formally lifted. This situation has created a long-term commitment for those individuals, who remain in the military unless the decree is rescinded. This ongoing mobilization reflects the prolonged nature of the conflict and the continued need for military personnel in the region.