MOSCOW. March 5 (Interfax) - Over 300,000 women number in the Russian Armed Forces, 40,000 of whom are in the armed service personnel, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"In the past year alone our women have received over 300 state awards, including 31 combat awards. This speaks volumes. It suggests that not only men are capable of bravery, and not only them who deserve such praise from the state," Shoigu said on Friday, congratulating women on March 8.
Currently, there are more than 300,000 servicewomen in the Russian Armed Forces, including about 270,000 civilian staff and 40,000 armed service personnel, the minister said.