Russian military

Vladimir Putin has signed a decree immediately increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military personnel. The decree replaces all previous ones on army strength and marks the seventh such expansion of Russian force levels since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Russia plans to increase its 2027 military spending by 27%, according to budget documents reviewed by Reuters. The figures point to a continued shift of Russian state finances toward defense despite talk of possible peace negotiations over Ukraine, and the report is drawing attention among analysts tracking Moscow's war economy and long-term military commitments.

Reports claim Russian forces carried out large-scale strikes on Kyiv, saying the attacks hit Ukrainian military hubs and killed 'NATO specialists'. Russian officials have repeatedly framed strikes against foreign personnel in Ukraine as targeting Western involvement in the war. Ukraine has not confirmed such claims, and figures on casualties or damage remain unverified. The reported strikes add to ongoing Russian bombardment of the Ukrainian capital amid the continuing war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a new expansion of Russia's military, according to reporting picked up by international outlets including The Brussels Times. The decree adds to a series of build-ups announced since the invasion of Ukraine, as Moscow seeks to enlarge troop numbers and strengthen its armed forces. The move is being watched closely by NATO members and European governments concerned about long-term Russian military capacity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree expanding the size of the Russian armed forces for the fourth time in 2025, according to Euronews. The move comes as Russia's war in Ukraine continues to generate heavy troop losses, forcing the Kremlin to repeatedly raise recruitment targets. It underscores the mounting strain the conflict is placing on Russia's manpower and military planning.

A detailed breakdown outlines Russia's alleged plans for a potential invasion of Ukraine from the northern axis, and how Ukrainian defences could counter such a move. The analysis draws attention to the continuing risk of renewed Russian offensives and the military planning on both sides. Commentators are weighing how realistic the threat is and what it means for the course of the war.

The Kremlin declared that Ukraine is now 'paying the price' for its own attacks on Russian territory, according to Reuters. The statement frames Russian military actions as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, and comes amid ongoing escalation in the war, with both sides continuing long-range attacks against targets far from the front lines.

Ukraine's General Staff reports that Russian forces lost 1,440 soldiers and two air defense systems over the past day of the war. Total Russian combat losses since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, through September 29, 2026, are estimated at roughly 1,532,500 personnel. The figures come from Ukraine's military and cannot be independently verified.

Niger's military ruler Abdourahamane Tchiani, who seized power in the 2023 coup, has cut ties with Western partners including the United States and France and brought in Russian forces to provide his personal security and support combat operations. The shift marks another step in the Sahel's drift away from traditional Western partners toward Moscow, and is drawing amused and critical reactions online.

Russian budget documents show military spending is set to rise 27% in 2027, according to reporting by The Moscow Times. The increase points to a continued shift of state finances toward defense and would extend years of heavy military outlays already driven by the war in Ukraine, raising questions about funding for civilian priorities and the sustainability of the budget.

Russia is sending the remains of medieval princes and Orthodox saints to the front lines, according to CNN reporting on the growing fusion of the Russian military and the Orthodox Church. Relics of figures like Alexander Nevsky are being paraded and venerated as the Kremlin frames the war in Ukraine as a holy cause, and the practice is drawing attention to how far religion has been enlisted in the war effort.

Estonian authorities say Russian intelligence services were behind an arson attack against Milrem, an Estonian defense contractor, in the capital Tallinn on August 15. The claim has drawn attention amid heightened tensions over Russia's war in Ukraine, with Milrem known for producing military robotics used by Ukraine. Observers see the attack as part of a broader pattern of Russian sabotage and hybrid operations targeting European defense and infrastructure.

EU officials are discussing adding Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, to the bloc's list of terrorist organizations. The initiative follows a series of sabotage acts and other hybrid attacks across Europe, in which authorities in several countries suspect Russian intelligence services of involvement. The move would mark a significant escalation in the EU's response to Moscow's covert operations on European soil, and it is drawing wide attention as governments weigh the diplomatic and legal implications.

Footage has emerged showing the final flight of a Russian military Tu-95 aircraft moments before it crashed in a Russian region. The video is circulating widely as people seek details about the incident, the condition of the crew, and the circumstances that led to the strategic bomber going down.

Search interest in military service is rising in Russia, with the topic ranking among the most queried items in the region. The term covers conscription, contract service and mobilization-related questions, issues that remain sensitive for many Russian families as the conflict in Ukraine continues.

French media report that a suspected Russian informant infiltrating a Ukrainian drone unit has been unmasked before an attack could be carried out. According to Le Parisien, the "mole" was operating among Ukrainian drone operators in the context of the war in Ukraine and was identified in time to prevent a strike, highlighting ongoing espionage concerns on both sides of the conflict.

Robert Brovdi, the Ukrainian commander known as 'Madyar' who leads the country's unmanned systems forces, is being searched for in several European countries, including France and Sweden. The attention comes as President Zelenskyy says Russia has already begun additional mobilisation, keeping Ukraine's military leadership and front-line command in the spotlight.

A Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all six crew members on board, according to reports circulating widely online. The Tu-95MS is a long-range, nuclear-capable turboprop bomber that Russia uses for missile strikes, so the loss of an airframe and crew is drawing significant attention. Details about the location, cause of the crash, and the exact circumstances remain limited as the story develops.

Warships of Russia's Northern Fleet have sailed through the Shokalsky Strait for the first time in the history of the Russian Navy, according to Nezavisimaya Gazeta. The route through the Arctic strait highlights growing naval activity in northern waters and the fleet's expanding operational reach in the region.

Russian forces struck a UAV launch position of Ukraine's 13th National Guard Brigade in Slobozhanske, in the Kharkiv region, using two Kh-39 missiles, according to war-monitoring reports. The strike is part of ongoing Russian attacks on military targets in eastern Ukraine as fighting continues along the front.

A Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber has crashed, killing all six crew members aboard, according to reports circulating in news and military-affairs circles. The Tu-95 is Russia's main long-range nuclear-capable bomber and has been used to launch cruise missiles in the war against Ukraine. Details on the cause and location of the crash have not yet been confirmed.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance will increase its support for Ukraine as Russian attacks continue. The pledge signals that NATO allies intend to sustain and expand military and other assistance to Kyiv despite the ongoing war and mounting pressure from Russian hostilities. The statement comes as Western leaders weigh how to keep backing Ukraine over the long term.

A Russian attack on the Rivne region of Ukraine on 29 September damaged civilian special-purpose equipment, according to Ukraine's national news agency Ukrinform. Authorities reported the strike hit non-military machinery, underscoring the ongoing threat to civilian infrastructure in western regions far from the front line.

A Russian Tu-154 aircraft described as belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defense is being discussed amid ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine. The Tu-154 is a Soviet-era airliner still used by the Russian military for transport and support duties. Posters tagging the item with OSINT and UkraineWar hashtags suggest it is being tracked by open-source analysts following Russian military aviation activity.