Russian Defense Ministry's 2016 budget to be cut by 5%, not 10%

The budget of Russia's Defense Ministry will be reduced by 5% this year, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Tatyana Shevtsova told the Russian News Service radio station.

"During the sequestration of the national defense budget, the country's leadership made a decision that the state weapons procurement program is not subject to sequestration at all. A decision was also adopted that the budget of the Defense Ministry will be reduced by 5%, not 10%," she said.

Sequestration measures will primarily apply to financial and administrative support and construction, Shevtsova said. Social commitments will not be reduced either.

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