REPORT PAINTS DISMAL PICTURE OF RUSSIAN ARMY.

A study published by the U.S. Congressional Research Service argues that few units in Russia’s conventional forces are combat ready and that growing politicization could lead to a military coup. The study also points to rapidly declining levels of men and armaments and estimates that Russia will require at least ten years to rebuild its non-nuclear forces. It concludes that the army’s budget crunch could lead in a few years to drastic force reductions or to a collapse of the military. (AP, December 2)

Sodirov Killed.