Moscow, June 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The number of contracted military personnel in the Russian armed forces will be increased from 150,000 to about 250,000 in the future, the defence minister said Wednesday.

‘There are 150,000 contracted personnel in the Russian military at present. Their number will increase to about 250,000 in the future,’ Anatoly Serdyukov told reporters after a closed-door meeting with Russian lawmakers.

In line with the ongoing military reform, the Russian armed forces will be downsized to one million personnel by 2016.

–IANS/RIA Novosti

snb/vt

Moscow, June 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The number of contracted military personnel in the Russian armed forces will be increased from 150,000 to about 250,000 in the future, the defence minister said Wednesday.

‘There are 150,000 contracted personnel in the Russian military at present. Their number will increase to about 250,000 in the future,’ Anatoly Serdyukov told reporters after a closed-door meeting with Russian lawmakers.

In line with the ongoing military reform, the Russian armed forces will be downsized to one million personnel by 2016.

–IANS/RIA Novosti

snb/vt