ZHELEZNODOROZHNY, Moscow Region. Nov 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Colonel General Vasily Smirmov, Russian Armed Forces deputy chief-of-staff, said on Monday that 35,000 young men have been drafted for active-duty service during the current conscription campaign.
"As of today, 35,000 conscripts have been sent to the army and navy, and 98 percent of targeted young men have been summoned to military commissioner's offices, where draft boards are working with them," Smirmov told reporters at the Moscow region assembly point.
In response to a question from Interfax-Military News Agency, the general said that "draftee teams are transported by trains, Air Force transport planes and automobiles."
He stressed that the conscription plan will be realized in strict accordance with the schedule. "I believe that the plans to recruit 140,900 people this year will be realized exactly on time," Smirnov said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov earlier said that this year's conscription target is set at 140,000 young men, which is 30,000 less than last year.
"We have manned several permanent-readiness units with 30,000 contract privates and sergeants this year. Instead of 175,000 people whom we recruited last year, we will recruit only 140,000 this year. Unfortunately, this is still nine percent of the eligible young men," Ivanov said.