Personnel changes coming for Defense Ministry

Personnel changes will take place in the Russian Defense Ministry in the near future. In particular, the number of deputy ministers will be reduced and the redundant functions of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will be annulled, a high-ranking source in the ministry said on Wednesday.

"Nothing revolutionary will take place. A provision on the Defense Ministry within the framework of the ongoing administrative reform will be signed in the near future. The document provides for dismissing several deputy ministers," the source said.

However, there will be no reduction of the number of deputy ministers to two, as it was done in the civilian departments." They cannot be simply dismissed. In this case the harmonious command system will collapse. It is necessary to preserve the tough executive vertical line," the source pointed out.

"For example, deputy defense minister for armaments issues directives and orders for deputy chief commanders of branches of armed forces for armaments, deputy chief commanders of military districts for armaments, and so on and so forth till regiments inclusive," the source said.

He also said that it was planned to set up services in the ministry which will supervise the main and central directorates. "The General Staff will be preserved as one of the most important structures of the Defense Ministry. Its functions will be optimized, and part of the redundant functions will be annulled. However, such important departments of the General Staff as the Main Operational Directorate, the Main Organizational and Mobilization Directorate and the Main Reconnaissance Directorate will be preserved. The reorganization of the General Staff is called upon to ensure its ability to prepare the armed forces not for wars of the past century but for wars of the future with the use of new armaments in principle," the source pointed out.