Russian Defense Minister criticizes military commanders

Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov is not satisfied with the fulfilment of the tasks set for the Russian armed forces for the winter training period, he said on Wednesday when making a report for the commanders of military districts and fleets that had come to Moscow for a regular muster. The set tasks have not been fulfilled completely, he said, stressing that the inadequate level of professional skills, the lack of initiative and purposefulness on the part of many commanders did not allow the country to achieve any progress. During the muster, Ivanov said he would have talks with a number of commanders, he said. On Tuesday the minister already met the commanders of the Siberian, Far-Eastern and Transcaucasian military districts. On Thursday he will meet the commanders of the Leningrad, Moscow and Volga-Ural military districts, as well as of the Moscow air force and air-defense district.