During his meeting with chiefs of veteran organizations of the Irkutsk region (the south of East Siberia) on Tuesday the minister stressed the necessity of more efficient collaboration with youth patriotic associations.
"Unfortunately, surveys show that only every fifth recruit in today's Russia prides himself on his commitment to the cause of protecting his Motherland," Ivanov said.
According to the official, more than half of recruits have reasons hindering their joining the service, every third on account of health problems.
"We must change the state of things as soon as possible, the Minister of Defense said. During his trip around the Siberian military district the minister intends to discuss these problems, with military commissars in Krasnoyarsk and heads of the Siberian Federal District's administrations in Omsk.
