In a frank admission of the Russian military's shortcomings, Defense Minister Igor Rodionov complained Friday that poor funding is eroding Russia's combat readiness.
Rodionov was pressing for more money as parliament prepared to discuss the revised 1997 budget draft, which puts more emphasis on social programs.Russia's defense spending has fallen sharply in recent years, and the military pressures for more funds whenever parliament considers a budget. Still, Rodionov's comments painted a grave picture of the state of the military.
"The armed forces are on the edge, beyond which extremely undesirable and even uncontrollable events might take place," Rodionov told Russian soldiers who have served in trouble spots of the former Soviet Union.
"If the 1997 defense budget is not corrected, Russia might lose its armed forces as an integral and capable state structure," he said.
Spending on the military has fallen 45 percent since 1992, according to Western estimates.
The Russian army's prestige also has fallen since the end of the Cold War. It took a big hit in Chechnya, where troops were humiliated by separatist fighters.
The proposed budget puts annual military spending at about $18.5 billion and sets aside an additional $1.2 billion for military reform.
Lawmakers in the State Duma, parliament's lower house, say proposed military spending for 1997 is actually slightly higher than this year.
But Rodionov said the proposed budget covers only one-third of the military's needs.
He cited the "decreasing levels of combat and mobilization readiness," and persistent lack of new weapons and housing. Many soldiers and officers have not been paid for months.
Before he was ousted last week as national security chief, Alexander Lebed warned that troops might mutiny over back pay. But most analysts say outright rebellion by the Russian military is unlikely because its long history of following civilian orders.
President Boris Yeltsin appointed Rodionov in July to carry out reforms. The president has promised to end unpopular conscription and create a smaller, professional military by the year 2000.