Official: Over 80,000 join Russian military under contract in 2026

More than 80,000 people have signed contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Defence since the beginning of 2026, according to Dmitry Medvedev.

Medvedev, who serves as Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, said in comments to RIA Novosti that this figure does not include additional volunteers who have also joined the armed forces.

“In addition to this number, there are also volunteers... That is, they have been enlisted into the troops and are currently defending our country,” he said, adding that there is currently no need for a new wave of mobilisation in Russia.

He also recalled recruitment figures from previous years. According to his statement at the end of December, 417,000 people signed contracts with the Ministry of Defence in 2025, while more than 36,000 joined as volunteers for the “special military operation.”

In 2024, approximately 450,000 people signed contracts, and another 40,000 joined volunteer units.

Vladimir Putin appointed Medvedev in September 2024 to head a commission responsible for recruiting contract soldiers into the armed forces. His deputy is Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

The commission also includes two deputy heads of the presidential administration, the justice minister, the director of the Federal Penitentiary Service, and deputy heads of the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service, among others.

By Tamilla Hasanova