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More Draftees Serve Less Time
In the autumn of 2008, the number of draftees into the Russian Armed Forces will double as part of the transition to one-year terms of service, according to Gen. Col. Vasily Smirnov, deputy chief of the Russian General Staff.
Smirnov said that there would be about 250,000 draftees. He acknowledged that that quantity of men is not necessary, although the number of draftees would nonetheless be larger than usual. The exact number needed is being calculated by the Defense Ministry at present.
In addition, Smirnov noted that the number of draft dodgers has been declining in the last seven years. In 1999, there were 44,000 draft dodgers. In 2005, there were 18,000 and in 2007, there were 10,000.
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