Sergei Ivanov, on an inspection trip to the Volga-Urals military district, said about 30,000 troops would be switched to contract status this year.
Ivanov reconfirmed the defense ministry's plans to place all sergeants in the army on contract after 2008, when the federal targeted program of switching constant alert troops to contract was over.
"We are paying close attention to the sergeants whose role is important to maintain discipline and order in the troops. We have already announced that our next step after 2008 would be to place sergeants on contract," Ivanov said.
Olga Prokhorova, a military psychologist working with contracted soldiers, told Ivanov that the soldiers were satisfied with the terms of their stay in the army and pay increases.
