(Itar-Tass) -- More than 100,000 contract servicemen will serve in RussiaÂ’s Ground Forces by the end of 2007, their commander, Colonel-General Alexei Maslov said on Friday. Looks like they're a little behind schedule in converting to a volunteer force. I have no idea what the quality of the "contract" troops is.
“Twenty five thousand people were hired on a contract basis in 2006 and the total number of contract servicemen is 72,000 and will increase to 102,000 next year,” the general said. In his words, more than 60 units and formations have been manned with contract servicemen and their number will grow to 80 by the end of 2007.