This man enlisted in a professional army, the campaign video says

The Russian army has launched a media campaign aimed at attracting professional recruits, or "contract soldiers", to bolster a force of demoralised conscripts.

In a promotional video aired on Russian NTV, a volunteer in smart uniform turns his attention away from an armoured vehicle and faces the camera.

"Me, I'm from the countryside. After school I did my two years of army service, returned home and there's no work, everyone just drinks," he says.

"What am I to do, live on my mum's pension? Well, I decided to enlist as a contract soldier."

A slogan on screen then appears: "Contract service in the army - a guarantee of a worthy life!"

The recruitment drive highlights improved pay and living conditions enjoyed by contract soldiers. Salaries are around 7,000 roubles ($250) a month, meals are free and new barracks and hostels have been built.

Conscription problems

After a decade of funding shortages after the 1991 Soviet collapse, President Vladimir Putin's government has begun increasing military spending on a professional force, thanks to rising revenues from oil exports.

Moscow has been trying to reduce the number of conscripts in favour of using professional soldiers.

Campaign calls contract troops the 'future of the new Russia!'

In December, Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov promised to increase the number of volunteer contract soldiers, but said the compulsory draft would also remain.

Human Rights Watch said last year it had identified "horrific violence" against new conscripts in the Russian army. Bullying has undermined the force's effectiveness.

Hard target

The patriotic-flavoured campaign uses a poster saying: "The army of Russia is an army of professionals". Under the Russian coat of arms, it says "Choose contract service!"

In another short TV advert, three soldiers leap off a battle tank to stirring music and smile to the camera. "Each of them is a professional," an announcer says.

"Contract service in the army - the future of the new Russia!" comes the on-screen slogan.

But, according to NTV, the campaign's message is not yet hitting the target.

It noted that the recruitment drive got off to a slow start last year, with fewer than 1,000 contract soldiers were recruited in the Volga Urals district.

For 2005, the plan is that 11,000 people join up on contracts in that district alone.

The military also hopes to boost the "contract force" with recruits from neighbouring former Soviet republics. For them, contract service means the chance to gain Russian citizenship.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.