Russia to increase contracted military personnel

The military personnel in the Russian Armed forces will increase up to 250,000, or 33 percent more, said the Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov on Wednesday.

"There are 150,000 contracted personnel in the Russian military now. Their number will increase to 200-250 thousand in future," said the minister as quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency.

By 2016 the Russian Armed forces will be downsized to nearly one million personnel, including 150,000 officers and about 745,000 soldiers.

Serdyukov meanwhile said he had exchanged views with senators from the Federation Council on Russian military reform and other issues.

Shortly after a brief war with Georgia in August 2008, Russia unveiled military reform plans aimed at modernizing its armed forces and improving their efficiency.

Source: Xinhua