"Our armed forces are going through a new stage of modernization," Sergei Ivanov, who is also deputy prime minister, said on Russian TV. "We are making a gradual transition to contract recruitment for constant combat readiness units and improve combat training."
He also said the Russian army had been receiving new weapons systems and advanced military equipment.
"However, in order to make our army and navy capable to project the status of great Russia in the 21st century, we need to work really hard in the future," Ivanov said.
Russia celebrates Fatherland Defenders Day on February 23.
President Vladimir Putin laid flowers to the Grave of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall Thursday morning and kept a moment of silence in tribute to those who gave their lives to protect the Fatherland.
