MOSCOW, April 18 (RAPSI) - On Wednesday, the State Duma held the first reading of a bill which cancels draft exemption for those who have undergone military service in countries with which Russia does not have relevant agreements.

Exemption will only be valid in the cases that are covered by international agreements.

An explanatory note to the bill says that military service in some countries, such as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, also includes serving in mobilization reserve forces, where servicemen receive substantial pay for month-long military training sessions. Although other countries have longer military service, the actual training is not exhaustive, the note reads.

Russias armed forces currently consist of permanent-readiness military units with an increased amount of conscripted privates and sergeants. It has been impossible to bring the army and navy to full strength for various reasons, including deferments, demographic gaps and the unwillingness of many young people to serve, the note reads.

Although the number of contract servicemen has increased, Russia still needs conscript soldiers.