
We will strive to acquire military force through a contract-based system, but economics will make it impossible for us to do this quickly.
We can’t fund a fully professional military using the government’s budget, especially where non-combat divisions are concerned. Otherwise, the military would be extremely expensive.
The State Duma has made a very thoughtful, correct decision by shortening the length of mandatory service to 12 months while preserving the draft.
I believe it must be done. It’s a question of money. This is a very expensive thing. Will we be able to do it by 2015? I’m not sure.
We should keep in mind the fact that we are gradually shifting away from conscription altogether.
At first, there were plans, there were ideas, to establish a fully contractual military. Then we looked at the matter, analyzed the experiences of many other countries, and it turns out that the draft persists almost in a majority of the countries in the world.
Official website of the Kremlin
Conscription is gradually becoming a thing of the past. It’s true that time and suitable funds will be necessary to make this happen.