14 Feb 2014 14:53

Russian Armed Forces has over 226,000 contract servicemen - ministry

MOSCOW. Feb 14 (Interfax) - Some 6,500 contract servicemen enrolled in the Russian Armed Forces in January, General Staff Chief General of the Army Valery Gerasimov said at a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry Board on Friday.

The recruitment of contract servicemen by military units is on schedule, he said. "More than 3,000 men have been assigned to airborne forces, special forces and marine units. Another two special units have been fully staffed with contract servicemen," Gerasimov said.

The total number of contract servicemen in the Russian Armed Forces exceeds 226,000, he said.