MOSCOW, January 14 (RIA Novosti) – More than 25,000 Russian officers are officially in active service without an assignment, but their number will be dramatically reduced in the near future, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.
“We are taking fairly serious steps and have significantly reduced the number of those in active service [without duties]. Nevertheless, their number is still large – more than 25,000 people,” Shoigu said in a conference call.
Discharged officers often face delays in being reassigned to reserve duty because there is a shortage of army housing, to which those in the reserve are entitled.
Shoigu said the problem was a huge burden on the defense budget.
“We need to decide as soon as possible whom we will return to service and who has decided to leave military service. Hopefully, there will not be so many of the latter,” the minister said.
