Russia "Power Agencies" Switchover to Contract Service to Cost 20 bln rbs Annually

The sums required to implement the federal targeted program of putting military units of all the power agencies to contract service will reach 15-20 billion rubles (1 dollar approximately equals 31.3 rubles) annually. Army General Vladimir Isakov, head of the logistics of the Russian armed forces, said this to journalists on Thursday.

A concrete figure will be fixed at the April 24 session of the cabinet, planning to consider the transition of army units of permanent combat readiness to a contract basis.

The general reported that to this end, a cost certificate has been drafted for every army unit. "The certificate makes possible objective assessment of the financial means required for the reform," he said.