---
title: "Zelenskyy states plans to maintain Ukraine's army at 800,000 troops"
description: "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to maintain an army of 800,000 troops, contingent on partner financial support or a lower number upon joining NATO."
date: 2026-10-25T19:16:36.996Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-plans-to-maintain-army-of-800000
tags: [zelenskyy, ukraine, armed-forces, nato, security]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelenskyy states plans to maintain Ukraine's army at 800,000 troops

![President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in tactical attire at an official event](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/25/zelenskiy-zayavil-o-sokhranenii-armii-v-800-tysyach/zelenskiy-zayavil-o-sokhranenii-armii-v-800-tysyach-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The target strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is 800,000 military personnel.
- The issue of army size is not discussed with the US or Russia.
- Ukraine relies on financial assistance from partners to maintain the army.
- In the event of joining NATO, the size of the Armed Forces may be reviewed.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated his intention to maintain the size of the country's Armed Forces at 800,000 military personnel to ensure complete national security. The Ukrainian leader announced this in an interview with TSN.Week host Alla Mazur, emphasizing that this figure could change if Ukraine joins NATO or receives sufficient financial backing.

### Sovereignty and the Internal Nature of the Decision

The Head of State specifically noted that the quantitative composition of the Ukrainian army is exclusively an internal matter for the country. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he fundamentally does not discuss and does not intend to discuss the parameters of the Armed Forces' size with either the Russian side or American partners. The President emphasized that such decisions are made based on national interests and defense requirements.

### Financial Component and Partner Support

A key factor for sustaining an army of 800,000 is the availability of necessary financial resources, which Ukraine cannot provide independently amid post-war economic recovery. In this regard, Kyiv relies on partial funding from international partners, viewing such investments as real security guarantees. Concurrently, the presidential office is discussing the integration of these forces into the pan-European security architecture with the participation of European nations.

### NATO Membership Prospects and Security

According to the Ukrainian Head of State, the 800,000 figure is not final and may be revised downward after Ukraine obtains membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. Collective NATO security can reduce the burden on the national budget and alter requirements for the regular troop strength. Nevertheless, at the current stage, a strong army is viewed as the primary barrier and key deterrence tool along the eastern border.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Я хочу сохранить армию численностью 800 тысяч военных, - Зеленский](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/hochu-zberegti-armiyu-chiselnistyu-800-tisyach-1792955613.html) - Primary source confirming Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statements about the 800,000 army size and its domestic nature.
- [800-тысячную армию в Украине должна финансировать вся Европа, - Подоляк](https://www.unian.net/society/800-tysyachnuyu-armiyu-v-ukraine-dolzhna-finansirovat-vsya-evropa-podolyak-13237242.html) - Additional source detailing statements by Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak regarding European funding for the army.
- [Украина не сможет самостоятельно профинансировать армию в 800 тысяч, - Зеленский](https://kp.ua/politics/a722751-ukraina-ne-smozhet-samostojatelno-profinansirovat-armiju-v-800-tysjach-zelenskij-) - Source confirming Zelenskyy's position on Ukraine's inability to independently finance an 800,000-strong army.
- [Зеленский склонил голову и признал поражение. Денег не хватит ни на что](https://inosmi.ru/20251222/ukraina-276316279.html) - Foreign commentary source.

## FAQ

### What army size does Volodymyr Zelenskyy plan to maintain?

The President of Ukraine stated his intention to maintain Armed Forces of 800,000 personnel.

### Who does Ukraine discuss its military personnel numbers with?

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that this issue is exclusively internal and is not discussed with either the Russian or American sides.

### Can Ukraine independently finance an army of 800,000 people?

The Head of State noted that Ukraine lacks sufficient financial resources of its own, thus partial funding through international partners is being considered.