Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree to increase the size of the Russian army by 180,000 troops to 1.5 million active servicemen.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies stated that this increase would make Russia's armed forces the second largest in the world, behind China.

Western intelligence sources estimated that Russia has lost nearly 200,000 troops and 400,000 wounded since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Ukraine has also suffered significant losses, with an estimated 80,000 dead soldiers and 400,000 wounded.

The Russian government paid approximately three trillion rubles (£27 billion) in salaries and compensation to soldiers and their families between July 2023 and June 2024.