Russia`s Ground Forces to conduct 230 staff exercises in summer

Russia`s Ground Forces will hold about 230 command-and-staff exercises at the operational level during summer 2007, a spokesman said Tuesday.

"We are also planning to conduct over 600 tactical exercises with live firing," Colonel Igor Konashenkov told RIA Novosti.

The Ground Forces are deployed in all six military districts of the country and total about 400,000 personnel, according to some estimates.

In line with current military reforms, more than 60 permanent-readiness units of the Ground Forces have already been manned with contract personnel.

Konashenkov earlier said the country`s Ground Forces would enlist more than 100,000 soldiers and non-commissioned officers on a contract basis by the end of 2007.

sections: Society