NOVOSIBIRSK. Jan 24 (Interfax-AVN) - Commander of the Siberian military district Colonel General Nikolai Makarov, who was recently appointed to the post, heard the report of the 41st joint-arms army's commander Lieutenant General Vladimir Kovrov during his working visit to garrisons of western Siberia.
"Makarov paid the main attention to the state and preservation of hardware and armament and work of commanders to search for deserters. He settled issues related to arrears in various payments and the situation with flats for servicemen," a source in the district headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
Some 1,500 servicemen need improvement of living conditions, and 805 of them do not have flats of their own.
Asked by reporters in the Novosibirsk airport what problems the commander is to solve primarily, Makarov said, "Before solving problems one should understand their essence. One has to clear out on the spot what the problems are about and what people need. After that we will make decisions."
Units and formations of the 41st army are stationed in six regions of Russia covering the territory of over 3.7 million square kilometers.
Makarov's working trip will end on January 31. The commander is to study life and activity of troops in garrisons located in the Novosibirsk and Kemerovo regions and the Altai territory. He will also meet with presidential envoy to the Siberian federal district Leonid Drachevksy and leaders of several Siberian regions.