Geopolitical Digest by Mikhail Azhgirevich — July 27, 2026

Putin Sets Standing Strength of Russian Armed Forces at 2.426 Million

According to the decree, the standing strength of Russia's Armed Forces has been fixed at 2.426 million personnel, of whom 1.535 million are servicemen. For comparison, in 1989 the strength of the Soviet Armed Forces stood at 5.35 million — a difference of nearly 2.2 times that illustrates the scale of the military's transformation over the past decades. Today's army is far more compact than its Soviet predecessor, but technologically incomparable to it — sheer numbers have long ceased to be the key parameter.

Pashinyan Floats Referendum on Armenia's EU Accession — in Conversation with Putin

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during a phone call with the Russian president devoted to problems in bilateral economic relations, raised the possibility of a referendum on the country's European integration. Notably, the statement was made directly to Moscow — a rare instance of such a remark being addressed to the Russian side rather than a Western audience. Telling Putin directly about a referendum on EU membership is either a gesture of candor or a carefully calculated signal aimed at two capitals at once.

Lithuania to Require Entering Russians to Sign Condemnation of Russia's Actions

Lithuania's Foreign Ministry announced that Russians arriving in the country for public appearances in education, culture, and sports will be required to sign a document condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine — refusal will mean a ban on entry. The measure ideologically ties cultural exchange to political loyalty at the individual level. A visa in exchange for a signature — cultural exchange is turning into a loyalty test.

America Is Dying Out Quietly. By 2040, the Workforce Will Shrink by 2.7 Million

29 July, 2026

Montenegro to Introduce Visas for Russians and Belarusians from November 1

Montenegro has announced the introduction of a visa regime for citizens of Russia and Belarus, taking effect on November 1, 2026 — until that date, visa-free entry for up to 30 days remains in place. The Balkan route, which had remained one of the last visa-free European destinations for Russians, is gradually closing. Another door to Europe is closing — the list of visa-free destinations continues to shrink.

Putin: Russia Outpacing the EU in Economic Growth Rates

The president stated that Russia's economy is outpacing the European Union in growth rates and, by purchasing power parity, holds 4th place in the world and 1st in Europe. The statement came against the backdrop of a recent crash on the Moscow Exchange to 2022 lows and signs of budgetary strain. PPP statistics and stock market charts sometimes tell different stories about the same economy.