Reforms made Russian army 1.5 times more combat-ready

23.12.2010 That was stated yesterday by Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov. He promised to make this parameter 3-3.5 times higher till 2020.

The minister's speech on combat readiness improvement possibly means that the military has been released from other-than-war activities, said political analyst Alexander Konovalov, president of the Institute of Strategic Analysis in his interview to radio Echo Moskvy.

"All military units must be divided into three categories – those capable to start combat mission in several hours, days, and weeks (months)", said Mr. Konovalov having added that the reason for increased combat readiness is probably the fact that soldiers and officers are released from non-military activities. "From this viewpoint, their capabilities and skills of weapon use have been really improved", concluded A. Serdiukov.

As for Alexander Konovalov, that is a profanation of the term 'combat readiness'.