RUSSIAN ARMY TO BE CUT BY 600,000

Within a few years, Russia’s army will be cut by 600,000 people, Sergei Ivanov, Security Council’s secretary said yesterday, after the council’s meeting. 365,000 people are to be discharged immediately within the Defense Ministry, and 265,000 are to be cut in the divisions at Federal Border Service, Emergency Situations Ministry and Interior Ministry. The cuts will affect mainly rear services, agencies immediately unrelated to military service and military training, Mr. Ivanov emphasized. According to Mr. Ivanov, all saved funds will stay at the ministries, but their spending will be put under tight control.